Working in Right Places: Strengthening Critical Risk Controls Through Innovation
At NCIG, safety is built on a simple principle: every person should return home safely at the end of every shift.
That commitment drives us to continually look for ways to strengthen our critical risk controls and reduce the potential for serious incidents. One example is our Working in Right Places initiative, an innovative digital verification system designed to ensure workers are on the right permit, the right isolation and the right piece of equipment before work begins.
Addressing a critical risk
Working in a large, complex industrial environment means managing significant sources of hazardous energy. While NCIG has long maintained robust Permit to Work and isolation processes, we recognised there was an opportunity to further reduce the potential for human error during maintenance activities.
NCIG is a large industrial site with a lot of similar looking parallel infrastructure which can create confusion for workers, particularly those unfamiliar with our site. The Working in Right Places initiative was developed to provide an additional layer of verification, helping workers confirm they are working on the equipment that has been correctly isolated before commencing work.
A simple solution with a significant impact
The system integrates with NCIG’s existing digital maintenance and safety systems. Before beginning work, personnel use the TESS Health & Safety app to scan a series of QR codes linked to the Permit to Work, Isolation Plan and the physical equipment.
Only when all three elements align does the system confirm the worker is in the right place and ready to commence work.
The process doesn’t replace existing isolation procedures or the need for workers to understand their task. Instead, it strengthens one of the most critical points in the isolation process by providing positive verification before work begins.
Designed with our people
The initiative was developed through collaboration between NCIG’s Engineering, Health & Safety, Information Technology, Maintenance and Operations teams, together with valuable input from contractor partners.
From the earliest concept through to site trials and final implementation, the people who use the system every day helped shape its design. Their feedback ensured the solution was practical, efficient and easy to incorporate into existing work practices. This collaborative approach has been key to the initiative’s success and ongoing adoption across the business.
Delivering safer outcomes
Since the site-wide implementation of Working in Right Places in July 2025, NCIG has recorded no incidents involving personnel working on incorrect equipment or isolations.
Beyond this measurable outcome, the initiative has strengthened confidence among workers, reinforced critical risk controls and embedded another layer of protection into everyday maintenance activities.
The system demonstrates how practical innovation, supported by workforce collaboration and continuous improvement, can further strengthen safety in complex industrial environments.
Recognised for safety excellence
The Working in Right Places initiative has been recognised as a finalist in the Safety Excellence category at the 2026 NSW Mining Health, Safety, Environment & Community (HSEC) Conference Awards.
The recognition acknowledges NCIG’s commitment to developing practical safety innovations that reduce critical risks and support safer outcomes for our people, contractors and industry.