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From amortisation to zero harm: The true cost of safety

21st October 2025

     

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By: Rifle Shot Performance Holdings client success manager Caroline Carter

Amortisation - we know it today as the gradual write-off of an asset or the reduction of a debt over time. But few realise its original meaning, one that dates back over 2 000 years to the early mining industry - and one that should make every modern safety leader pause.

The prefix morto means death.

In Jim Bailey’s book Sailing to Paradise – The Discovery of the Americas by 7000 BC, he cites the historian Diodorus Siculus, who described the brutal conditions endured by miners in ancient Egypt. These early miners were slaves, forced to work naked, without rest or mercy. They were literally worked to death - and from this grim history, our financial term “amortisation” was born.

Diodorus wrote:

“Nature itself doth teach, and evidently shew, that gold is painful to find, hard to keep, full of care to make gains of, and the use of it is intermingled with grief and pleasure.”

Thankfully, we have come a long way since then. Today, our industries value human life above all else. We invest in technology, training and culture so that no one should have to risk their life to earn a living.

The International Labour Organisation defines decent work as: “Productive work for men and women in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity.”

And yet, in an age of smart sensors, AI, and predictive maintenance, far too many operations still rely on paper-based permits-to-work - systems that provide little context, limited visibility, and zero real-time control.

A Paper Permit Cannot Protect a Person

The Occupational Health and Safety Act (Section 13: Duty to Inform) is clear: “Employers must ensure that every employee is made conversant with the hazards of their work and the precautionary measures to be taken.”

But how can a supervisor holding a flat piece of paper - with no live data, no visual context, and no way to see what is happening elsewhere on site - reasonably ensure the safety of their people?

Imagine if a welder begins hot work below another contractor handling gas cylinders. There is no way to see that overlap on paper. No alert. No immediate intervention.

An electronic permit-to-work (ePTW) system changes that instantly. It brings context to life, showing who is working where, what hazards are present, and which safety controls are active. It transforms static documentation into a dynamic safety control mechanism.

Not All ePTW Systems Are Created Equal

Simply replacing a paper form with a digital replica may feel like progress, but it only scratches the surface. It’s mildly better, yet it fails to leverage what digital systems are truly capable of.

In today’s era of artificial intelligence, modern safety systems must go beyond data capture to data intelligence. By embedding rules-based engines and generative AI, advanced ePTW platforms can predict risks, prompt users and managers in real time, and transform the flood of raw data into actionable insight.

This does not just remove administrative drudgery - it ensures compliance, sharpens situational awareness, and dramatically enhances both the effectiveness and value of the permit-to-work process.

And when mobility is added, safety takes another leap forward. The mobile ePTW interface connects field workers directly to the system - bringing observations from the coal face into the control room in real time. This ensures decisions are based on live, accurate information from the people closest to the work. It is a true step change in operational safety intelligence.

Consistency. Control. Visibility. Mobility. Intelligence.
These are not just operational improvements - they are life-saving advantages.

The Hidden Risks of Paper Permits

  • No real-time control or visibility
  • Gaps between procedures and actual practice
  • Inconsistent authorisations
  • Ineffective management of contractors
  • Bottlenecks and poor handwriting
  • Permits filled in “by rote” with little reflection
  • Difficult, time-consuming audits
  • Work status hidden in books, not systems

The Digital Difference

  • Consistent, high-quality permits that comply with procedure
  • Active hazard control and visibility
  • Effective delegation and accountability
  • Instant notifications for deviations or exceptions
  • Reinforced training through every permit cycle
  • Real-time visibility of all work in progress
  • Comprehensive audit trails
  • Improved efficiency and reduced downtime

Reframing Amortisation

Perhaps it is time to redefine amortisation - not as the slow death of value, but as the gradual investment in life. By amortising a digital asset such as an ePTW, companies do not only save money - they save lives. They reduce contractor wait time, streamline audits, and prevent the unimaginable costs of accidents, rehabilitation and human trauma.

After all, the true measure of progress in any industry is not just productivity – it is the number of people who go home safely every day.

RSPH: Two Decades of Safety through Digitalisation

Celebrating 20 years of partnership with industry, digital business platform provider Rifle Shot Performance Holdings (RSPH) continues to champion safety enhancement through intelligent digitalisation - using proven, methodical strategies to help organisations move ever closer to their mission of Zero Harm.

Let us not let amortisation return to its original meaning.
Let us ensure every innovation, every system, and every process we adopt moves us one step closer to a world where no one pays for progress with their life.

Rifle-Shot Performance Holdings

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

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