if php is running as an apache module, that is in the httpd.conf file there is LoadModule php4_module libexec/modphp4.so and AddModule mod_php4.c, inside the virtualhost entry they may be able to put
php_value safe_mode 0
all the switch --enable-safe-mode does is set safe_mode to 1 in the php.ini file anyway, it doesnt make php permanently run with it on.