Construction company J Murphy & Sons has won the health and safety category award in last week’s Society of British Water and Wastewater Industries (SBWWI) Awards.

Murphy’s entry highlighted its health and safety management systems and culture, control of risk, and very low levels of error, harm and loss, which it has achieved through the adoption of the Constructing Better Health (CBH) scheme and its own occupational-health standards.

Since signing up to CBH, Murphy says it has made positive progress in improving the health of its 3000-strong workforce. Its culture-change programme has achieved behavioural-safety change and improved attitudes and beliefs towards safety. All members of staff, at all levels, have bought into the programme.

On winning the award, director John Murphy said: “We are delighted to bring home a health and safety award after significant progress across the business in this area this year.

“Construction is a high-risk industry and it is vital we place occupational health and safety as our number-one priority. Our aim has been to promote a zero-accident culture and occupational health plays a major part in achieving this.”