Zetifi backs identity-led safety shift in Australian fleets

Zetifi has published research on a new model for fleet safety in Australia, identifying identity-led safety as a key shift in work health and safety compliance.

The report, produced by ABI Research and sponsored by the Australian technology company, says employers are moving away from telematics systems and alert tools that operate in isolation. Instead, it outlines a model that connects worker identity, safety events, workflow actions and outcomes through a single auditable chain.

The findings focus on fleet and field operations, where workers are dispersed across large areas, often in remote locations with varying levels of connectivity. The study says pressure under Australian work health and safety frameworks, operational complexity, and the growing use of AI agents are pushing organisations to improve how they identify workers and record incidents.

Three themes run through the research: identity at the point of event capture, identity-led workflow inside enterprise systems, and continuity of identity as workers move from vehicles into field environments.

Point of capture

The first theme focuses on identifying the person involved when a safety event occurs. Many organisations still rely on RFID fobs, PIN logins and manual assignment to link drivers to incidents, but the report says those methods are becoming less reliable in shared vehicles, high-turnover workforces and changing operating conditions.

Errors at this stage can weaken audit trails, undermine confidence in safety data and make follow-up action less effective. The report cites Safe Work Australia data showing vehicle incidents account for about 42 per cent of workplace fatalities in Australia.

It also points to systems that pair telematics with video intelligence to verify the driver in real time.

"The research highlights emerging systems that automate identity verification through integrated telematics and video intelligence platforms, including solutions such as Geotab, which link driver identity to in-cab events in real time," said Dan Winson, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Zetifi.

"This ensures safety records begin with verified identity, reducing the need for post-event reconciliation," Winson said.

Workflow link

The second theme examines what happens after an event is recorded. Many employers still manage safety responses through a patchwork of email, spreadsheets and separate case management systems, the study says, slowing investigations and blurring responsibility.

That matters because workforce identity in many large organisations is already managed through central enterprise software. The research points to Microsoft systems including Entra ID, Power Automate, Teams and SharePoint as examples of how identity-linked events can move into governed workflows with a clear audit trail.

The report also refers to integrated deployments in which telematics data feeds into Microsoft-based processes for safety response, escalation and compliance tracking. It argues this gives employers a more consistent record of what happened, who was involved and what action followed.

Winson said fragmented systems remain common.

"Many organisations still rely on disconnected tools such as email, spreadsheets, or standalone case management systems to handle safety events," he said.

"These fragmented workflows slow response times and weaken accountability."

Beyond the vehicle

The third theme addresses a longstanding weakness in fleet safety systems: what happens when a worker leaves the vehicle and enters the field. The report says serious incidents often occur after that transition, especially in sectors such as mining, utilities, agriculture and transport, where staff can face fatigue, isolation and communication gaps.

In those settings, conventional telematics tools may lose visibility once a worker is no longer in the cab. The research argues employers need a way to preserve identity across mobile connectivity, radio systems and edge devices so alerts, check-ins and incident signals remain linked to a verified individual.

It says this would improve traceability in low-connectivity and remote environments, where incidents can be under-reported or difficult to reconstruct later.

Winson linked the issue to the risk profile of heavy transport and dispersed operations.

"Industries such as mining, utilities, agriculture, and transport face elevated risk due to remote operations, fatigue exposure, and communication gaps," he said.

"Geotab data referenced in the research shows that heavy vehicles account for a significant proportion of road fatalities in Australia, while field-based incidents remain under-reported due to fragmented communication systems."

AI systems

The report also frames identity-led safety as a prerequisite for using AI agents in enterprise safety systems. It argues AI tools need verified, structured and attributable information if they are to triage incidents, assign responsibility or trigger formal workflows without weakening oversight.

In this view, the issue is not simply gathering more operational data. It is making sure each event is tied to the right person and can be acted on through rules that managers, investigators or regulators can review later.

Zetifi, which develops wireless products and connected fleet safety systems, presents this as part of a broader shift in how organisations manage workforce safety across vehicles and field operations. The report suggests identity is moving from a supporting function to the core structure around which safety records, workflow actions and AI-led decision support are organised.

"As AI agents are increasingly deployed across fleet operations, identity-linked data enables systems to triage events, recommend actions, and support human-in-the-loop decision-making while maintaining accountability and audit integrity," Winson said.

"Fleet safety is no longer about capturing more data. It is about ensuring every event is tied to the right person and triggers the right action.

"The organisations that succeed will be those that treat identity not as a feature, but as the backbone of safety, workflow, and AI readiness," he said.