He's been a police officer, a helicopter pilot, an outdoor education instructor and a British junior kayaking champion, and now Cromwell's Duncan Faulkner is turning his attentions to health and safety.
Mr Faulkner (32), is co-developer of Safely.nz, a health and safety app launched in late May which he believes has huge national and international potential.
Born and raised in the UK, he was a police officer when he emigrated to Queenstown. He left the police to train as a pilot in Nelson before moving to Cromwell to take a job with Aurum Helicopters.
That's when he became acquainted with health and safety.
Mr Faulkner said he and another staff member were asked to build a health and safety system for the company, which he said unexpectedly took them three months.
"We had to find all the information we needed, which in itself took a lot of time, then build the system. It was audited and we passed, but within days we were overtaken by paperwork.
"I realised a paper-based system [on a computer] didn't work and what was needed was software which could constantly be updated.
"I also knew it needed to be user-friendly - a system written for business owners, not for experts.''
Mr Faulkner said he lacked the technical skills to create an app until about two years ago when he met software developer Brian Graham, who had relocated to Cromwell after 35 years in Auckland.
They set up Peak Software and began developing the app, but lacked access to health and safety experts and a business partner until Mr Faulkner was introduced to Melissa Vining, a health and safety specialist with business consultancy firm Crowe Horwath.
The result was a partnership which led to the launch of Safely.nz on May 26.
The app, which is installed on a smartphone or tablet and can also operate offline, has been designed for businesses such as farming, horticulture, contracting, shearing and aviation, offers a range of features from automating record keeping and managing documents to producing reports and reminding business owners staff training or vehicle inspections are due.
Customers buy access to the app from $50 a month.
Neil McAra, head of agribusiness for Crowe Horwath New Zealand and managing principal of Crowe Horwath South, said the company saw the potential of the app and was pleased to offer further support to its rural clients, particularly on an issue which was vital to the wellbeing of workers.
"Compliance can be a challenge given the extent and complexity of the new regulations in the new Health and Safety Act. With this partnership and the Safely.nz app, we believe that's a challenge which has been solved, delivering convenience and clarity for compliance which doesn't have to hamper operations.''
Ms Vining said being able to use the system online or offline was important.
"Given that connectivity isn't assured in rural settings, it was essential it works whether connected or not.''
Mr Faulkner said the app ensured users had access to the latest and best information without having to find it themselves or hire consultants.
That was important when the vast majority of New Zealand companies were too small to afford a dedicated health and safety manager, he said.
There was a "massive opportunity'' to widen the app for various businesses, here and overseas, Mr Faulkner said.
"It's only going to get bigger and better from here. We are already working at expanding it to the transport and education sectors.''
