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As a social enterprise in the truest sense, Merriwa Industries trades in goods and services to deliver a profound social impact. This mission materialises through their integrated work teams, where people with and without disabilities collaborate side-by-side in a fast-paced factory environment.
For an organisation so deeply focused on people, prioritising the safety and welfare of the team is baked into the very foundation of the company.
"The values of our company are really based upon providing meaningful work for people with disability, and that's where we start, and that is what is at the center of this business," explains Helen Tobin-King, CEO of Merriwa Industries.
"When you're dealing with some of the most vulnerable people in society you've got to take extra steps to ensure their safety," adds Safety Officer Amanda Keyzer.
However, managing safety in such a diverse environment comes with unique challenges. To truly protect their people, Merriwa Industries needed to move beyond traditional safety management and foster a culture where every voice could be heard.
"The old culture of oh you don't say anything or you don't want to dob in your friend, that is starting to change because the transparency that we have now in this risk management system has empowered everyone."
Empowerment Through Transparency
Like many organisations, Merriwa Industries battled a common cultural hurdle: the reluctance of employees to report health and safety incidents. There was a lingering perception that reporting a hazard was akin to 'dobbing in a friend'. This silence is a significant risk factor in safety management; without reports, hazards remain hidden.
Merriwa Industries understood that a strong safety culture is built on trust. They sought a solution that would dismantle the fear of retaliation and empower every employee to become an active participant in safety.
“Things down to a papercut or a splinter, we recommend and really encourage our staff to report,” says Deanne Brown, Support Officer.
The shift to a centralised, transparent digital risk management system has been transformational. By removing the friction from the reporting process, the Merriwa has seen a tangible shift in behaviour. The stigma of "dobbing" is being replaced by a collective sense of responsibility.
“The old culture of ‘oh you don't say anything or you don't want to dob in your friend’, that is starting to change because the transparency that we have now in this risk management system has empowered everyone,” shares Keyzer.
Engagement Through Innovation
In a diverse workforce, accessibility is key. For Merriwa Industries, a standard paper-based system or a complex desktop interface presented a barrier. For employees with literacy challenges or writing difficulties, the mere act of documenting an incident was an obstacle to raising an issue.
To truly engage the workforce, the software needed to be usable by everyone, regardless of ability. The introduction of a mobile app has dismantled these barriers, democratising safety across the factory floor.
“From an engagement perspective, it has actually helped people,” says Keyzer. The results speak for themselves. “We’re getting a variety of people reporting, not just the one person writing on behalf of someone else,” adds Jacquie Pavlik, QA/Safety Manager.
The inclusion of voice-to-text technology has been particularly impactful for staff who may struggle with typing. “For those staff that can’t type themselves, then they have that option to use the mic function and have it typed for them,” explains Brown.
This ease of access ensures that safety happens in real-time, rather than being an administrative afterthought. “For me the mobile app is really good because I can just get my phone and use it on the go,” adds Return to Work Coordinator, Ben Cooper.
Data-Driven Decisions for Continuous Improvement
For senior leadership, the transition to a digital platform has replaced fragmented paper records and disparate spreadsheets with a reliable single source of truth. This data integrity has enabled the leadership team to pivot from reactive firefighting to proactive, strategic decision-making.
“The ready information that is available from ecoPortal is something that reassures us that we're managing the complexity of this business in a really timely manner,” explains Tobin-King.
Visualising this data is paramount. It provides a pulse check on the organisation, highlighting trends and areas for improvement before they result in injury.
Adding Value Across the Business
Ultimately, the digitisation of safety at Merriwa Industries has proven that safety is not a cost centre, but a value driver. By prioritising the engagement of its people, the organisation has strengthened both its social mission and its business outcomes.
"ecoPortal gives me as the leader of the business and our board the reassurance that safety is being appropriately managed through the business. It gets the basics right so that then we can lift our gaze to what the future looks like.” concludes Tobin-King.
Through the use of accessible technology and a commitment to transparency, Merriwa Industries has created a blueprint for how social enterprises can thrive — proving that when you protect your people, you protect your business.
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