diff --git a/src/aare/daq/config.py b/src/aare/daq/config.py
index 77a64327..049c1da4 100644
--- a/src/aare/daq/config.py
+++ b/src/aare/daq/config.py
@@ -98,6 +98,27 @@ class BeamlineConfig:
             host = cfg_get("daq.hardware.redis_url", f"{self.__bl}-redis.psi.ch")
         self.__client = redis.Redis(host=host, port=6379, db=0, decode_responses=True)
         self.simulated_detector = bl is MXBeamline.SIMULATED
+        self._initialize_optional_yaml_defaults()
+
+    def _initialize_optional_yaml_defaults(self) -> None:
+        raw_dtz_safe_position = cfg_get("daq.hardware.dtz_safe_position")
+
+        if raw_dtz_safe_position in (None, ""):
+            return
+
+        if self.dtz_safe_position is not None:
+            return
+
+        try:
+            self.dtz_safe_position = float(raw_dtz_safe_position)
+            logger.info(
+                f"Initialized dtz_safe_position from beamline config: {self.dtz_safe_position}"
+            )
+        except (TypeError, ValueError) as e:
+            logger.warning(
+                f"Ignoring invalid daq.hardware.dtz_safe_position value: "
+                f"{raw_dtz_safe_position!r} ({e})"
+            )
 
     #GUI session management
 
@@ -820,7 +841,7 @@ class BeamlineConfig:
     def dtz_safe_position(self) -> float | None:
         tmp = self.__client.get(f"{self.__bl}:dtz_safe_position")
         if tmp is None:
-            return 200.0
+            return None
         return float(tmp)
 
     @dtz_safe_position.setter
@@ -1197,4 +1218,5 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
     cfg = BeamlineConfig(bl=mx_beamline())
     # cfg.allow_non_staff_request_from_staff = True
     # cfg.state_busy = False
-    cfg.abr_meas_pos = AerotechCoordinate(at_mm=Coordinate(x=0.0,y=0.0,z=0.0))
\ No newline at end of file
+    #fg.abr_meas_pos = AerotechCoordinate(at_mm=Coordinate(x=0.0,y=0.0,z=0.0))
+    cfg.dtz_safe_position = 300.0
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/aare/daq/workflows.py b/src/aare/daq/workflows.py
index 53834b66..4a1fa4bc 100644
--- a/src/aare/daq/workflows.py
+++ b/src/aare/daq/workflows.py
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 from aare.common.models import SampleCameraSettings
-from aare.daq.devices import BeamlineDevices
-from aare.daq.config import BeamlineConfig, ABR_POS_MOUNT, ABR_OMEGA_MOUNT
+from aare.common.logger_config import setup_logger
 
 from aare.devices.area_detector import AutoEnum
-from aare.common.logger_config import setup_logger
 from aare.devices.bec_worker import BeamlineState
+from aare.daq.devices import BeamlineDevices
+from aare.daq.config import BeamlineConfig, ABR_POS_MOUNT, ABR_OMEGA_MOUNT
 
 import time
 
@@ -12,7 +12,32 @@ logger = setup_logger("aareDAQ")
 
 SAFE_POSITION = 600
 
+
+def _move_detector_to_safe_position_if_needed(devs: BeamlineDevices, cfg: BeamlineConfig):
+    safe_position = cfg.dtz_safe_position
+    current_dtz = cfg.dtz
+
+    if safe_position is None:
+        logger.debug("No dtz_safe_position configured; skipping detector move")
+        return
+
+    if current_dtz is None:
+        logger.debug("Current dtz is unknown; skipping detector safe-position move")
+        return
+
+    if current_dtz < safe_position:
+        logger.info(f"Moving detector to safe position {safe_position}")
+        return devs.bec_worker.det_z(value=safe_position)
+
+    logger.debug(
+        f"Detector already at or beyond safe position "
+        f"(current={current_dtz}, safe={safe_position}); skipping move"
+    )
+    return None
+
+
 def common_2rse(devs: BeamlineDevices, cfg: BeamlineConfig):
+    _move_detector_to_safe_position_if_needed(devs, cfg)
     devs.bec_worker.move_to(BeamlineState.ROBOT_SAMPLE_EXCHANGE)
     print('move smargon home')
     devs.smargon_move_home()
@@ -123,9 +148,7 @@ def sa2dc(devs: BeamlineDevices, cfg: BeamlineConfig):
     logger.info(f"sam cam auto exposure in {time.perf_counter() - start:.2f}")
 
 def dc2sa(devs: BeamlineDevices, cfg: BeamlineConfig):
-    status = None
-    if cfg.dtz and cfg.dtz < SAFE_POSITION:
-        status = devs.bec_worker.det_z(value=SAFE_POSITION)
+    status = _move_detector_to_safe_position_if_needed(devs, cfg)
     devs.samcam_auto(AutoEnum.AUTO)
     devs.bec_worker.move_to(BeamlineState.SAMPLE_ALIGNMENT)
     devs.aerotech_pos = cfg.abr_meas_pos
@@ -215,7 +238,6 @@ def common2maintenance(devs: BeamlineDevices, cfg: BeamlineConfig):
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     from aare.common.beamline import mx_beamline
-    import time
     beamline = mx_beamline()
     config = BeamlineConfig(beamline)
     devices = BeamlineDevices(beamline)