"I can chat all day, but you have to take your points"
Sascha Muus (43) is lead auditor Safety Culture Ladder at EBN Certification. With a background as a construction cleaner and systems pallender, he knows construction from the inside. "I have seen how unsafe it can be: just do this, just do that - you just did that," he says. These days, he gives talks on safety awareness.
From construction site to audit office
The origins of Sascha's motivation to become an auditor lie in his own experience. "I experienced moments where I thought: how am I supposed to do this? Under pressure, you just did it. That was normal back then." Those experiences brought him to the human side of security. "I'm not stuffy or boring. At EBN Certification, where I have been working since April, I meet a lot of young people. A colleague who started at the same time as me is 24 and had no audit experience."
A good conversation starts with management
Sascha usually starts his audits with management. "How is safety regulated? Are there golden rules? How do you communicate that throughout the company? What is your commitment as a director?" Those rules, he says, are essential. "It doesn't have to be a list of 10, as long as employees know them."
What makes a good SCL auditor?
"You need to be sociable, able to listen and empathise. To get to work as an SCL auditor is a SCL 2.0 training required, plus a good motivation. After this, an independent tutor watches how you do it in practice. If this is not satisfactory, you do not obtain official authority to conduct SCL audits."
The added value for companies
Many organisations start with SCL because their client asks them to. "But then they see the benefit themselves. They discover that with SCL you can really measure how aware employees are about safety. That makes it valuable."
Companies at higher rungs (4 and 5) are attractive to younger generations, according to Sascha. "People who have been doing the same thing for 30 years say: we have been doing it this way for years. The new generation is growing up with SCL. Who think: that's where I want to work."
SCL Light: risk or opportunity?
At SCL Light the auditor has less time and speaks to fewer people. "The danger is that it then becomes another checklist. I prefer to really engage during the audit." During recertification, Sascha scrutinises areas for improvement from previous reports. "Has that been addressed? In new audits, you focus on themes such as culture, rules and commitment."
The four-eye principle
Audits he usually conducts in pairs. "Two opinions ensure an objective result. You see what the other does not see." Both auditors conduct interviews and write reports. "I am not an assistant, we do it together," he says.
On psychological safety
Psychological safety also deals with issues such as sexual harassment. "In the beginning, I found that difficult. As a man, you ask a woman how she experiences it in a man's company... Sensitive! Often you then say something light-hearted: how did you end up here? Then you notice soon enough if someone doesn't want to talk about something."
A judgment with impact
After the audit, the client gets the verdict immediately. "If a company drops from step 3 to 2, you have to explain it well. Usually they see it as a learning point. They often ask immediately: what is needed for Step 4?"
Sascha is not yet allowed to perform audits at Step 4 and 5. "That level goes deeper into the processes. That's where I would like to go."
Auditor safety
A topic that Sascha believes deserves more attention is the safety of auditors themselves. "Some reverse their findings to avoid hassle. That is worrisome." He himself also experienced something uncomfortable. "At a demolition company, the atmosphere suddenly turned. Nothing happened, but my gut said: I shouldn't stay here too long." He hopes this issue will receive more attention at the SCL event on 20 November in Nieuwegein.
New themes on the rise
Digital security is already part of SCL. "How do you deal with phishing or data breaches? Large companies test that by sending a fake e-mail and seeing who clicks on it." Addressing third parties, such as subcontractors, is also becoming more important. "That is more difficult than addressing a colleague. There is still a lot to be gained in terms of security."
Learning together at the SCL event
The annual auditors' day is mandatory for auditors, but Sascha loves going there. "I love it. There are workshops, talks and peer review. You meet colleagues, exchange experiences, and everyone is there out of interest. If you like SCL, you just go. You don't go and stand in a corner."
Like Sascha, do you also like SCL? Come to the SCL Event 2025.