Countdown for safety awards
November 1st 2007

The countdown has begun for entries for the RoSPA Occupational Health and Safety Awards, which honoured around 130 manufacturing and engineering services companies among its record 1400 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.

Last year's winner of the Manufacturing Sector was Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK, with Springfields Fuels and Marshalls West Lane Works Landscape Division, highly commended.

The Engineering Services Sector was won by ScottishPower Fleet Business, with Metronet REW Trains Division, commended.

Tom Mullarkey, RoSPA chief executive, said: "Our winners represent the high performers in health and safety throughout the UK and the world. They lead the way in saving lives and reducing injuries and ill health in the workplace. How well an organisation manages health and safety speaks volumes about its values and professionalism." 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, Presidents Awards and Orders of Distinction.

The competitive awards go to the best entries in 21 individual industry sectors including the manufacturing industry and engineering services sectors. There are special awards for workforce involvement, training, occupational health, environmental management and the management of occupational road risk. There is a trophy for the best organisation operating or based mainly in Scotland, and RoSPA's top accolade is the Sir George Earle Trophy. The awards are sponsored by NEBOSH The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health.

The presentations will take place from May 13 to May 15 at the Birmingham Hilton Metropole Hotel where there will be three prestigious gala dinners. They run alongside three days of RoSPA conferences and Safety & Health Expo 2008 at the NEC. Winners can also pick up their awards at the RoSPA Scotland event held in Glasgow in September.

The closing date is February 15, 2008, but organisations should start to prepare their submissions now to avoid a last-minute rush.

Full details can be found at www.rospa.com/awards , or more information is available by ringing the number below:

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