RoSPA Press Office : Press Release

December 6, 2007
NEW AWARD TO HIGHLIGHT WORKER INVOLVEMENT IN SAFETY

Businesses and organisations that include workers in making decisions about managing health and safety have the chance to win a new award from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

Springfields Fuels Ltd of Preston are sponsoring the RoSPA Workforce Involvement in Health and Safety Trophy which will be presented for the first time at a prestigious ceremony in May, 2008.

The winner will be chosen from the short-listed entries in RoSPA’s 21 sector award categories, which cover all types of organisation, including manufacturers, construction firms, transport companies, local authorities, and education and health establishments.

Judges will look for excellent levels of employee involvement at operational level, (such as induction training, protective equipment trials and tool-box talks), health and safety workforce representation, involvement of representatives in health and safety management processes and joint consultation.

Roger Bibbings, RoSPA Occupational Safety Adviser, said: “You can only do health and safety with people, not to them. Successful health and safety management is impossible without involving the workforce in key decisions at every stage.

“The people who know the risks of a workplace best are those who actually undertake the operations in that workplace. Good workforce involvement empowers individuals to contribute to safer working and secures their commitment to improving performance.

“We hope this award will not only showcase best practice in this field, but also encourage other organisations to enhance the way they involve their employees - whether as individuals or through safety representatives - by including them in health and safety decision-making.”

The RoSPA awards, sponsored by NEBOSH – The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health - honoured a record 1,400 winners last year.

Businesses and organisations of all sizes and types should start preparing their submissions now to be sure to meet the February deadline for the 2008 celebration of best practice in health and safety. The majority of the awards are non-competitive and mark achievement which is graded at merit, bronze, silver and gold levels. Those demonstrating continued improvement can win gold medals, President’s Awards and Orders of Distinction.

Presentations take place from May 13 to May 15 at the Birmingham Hilton Metropole Hotel where there will be three prestigious gala dinners. Awards are also presented in Scotland in September. Full details can be found at www.rospa.com/awards or more information is available by ringing 0121 248 2090 and e-mailing awards@rospa.com