With today (16 December) being the deadline for registration for the RoSPA Awards’ London and Birmingham ceremonies and competitive industry awards, two previous award winners tell us about their experiences and their reasons for applying.
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, a local authority in the West Midlands providing services to the residents of six towns in the borough, is a regular RoSPA Awards winner.
Chris Williams, the council’s senior lead officer for health and safety, explains why the local authority chooses to enter the awards: “We have submitted awards for a number of areas of the council to demonstrate excellence and good practice. Sandwell Leisure Trust received a President’s Award for 10 successive Gold Awards, and is believed to be the first leisure trust in the country to receive this award. Sandwell Adult Social Care received a President’s Award for 10 successive Gold Awards and has demonstrated a commitment to high levels of health and safety performance despite significant budget reductions.
“Westminster and Meadows Schools are both “special schools” that achieved Gold Awards for the second successive year, and have demonstrated a high performance in health and safety whilst dealing with some of our most vulnerable children. Neighbourhood Services achieved a Silver Award at the first attempt and is the largest department in the council. It deals with housing, libraries, estate services, grounds maintenance and waste and transport issues.
“Achieving a RoSPA Award demonstrates excellence in health and safety and ensures that standards continue to improve year on year.
“If you’re entering the RoSPA Awards this year, ensure that you have a robust management system in place and that you are pro-active in managing health and safety.”
Colchester Zoo prides itself on maintaining a safe and efficient working environment, and was this year handed a Bronze Award for health and safety. Construction manager John Game discusses why the zoo decided to enter: “Colchester Zoo decided to enter the RoSPA Awards for staff to recognise goals which we are aiming to meet and exceed. Achieving the award has been a great way to recognise how well the staff have worked together and achieved the goals set in a short space of time. This has helped with team morale and motivation to continue and exceed their great work.
“Going forward we will continue with training and implementing new strategies to maintain a safe and more efficient working environment.
“For other organisations entering the RoSPA Awards, we would advise that a realistic benchmark is set for staff and to offer as much practical staff training as possible. Inevitably this will increase work output and enhance the team’s morale and attitude towards health and safety issues.”
The deadline for registrations for the London and Birmingham ceremonies, as well as the competitive awards, closes today (Friday, December 16), and registrations for the Scotland ceremony and postal awards closes on April 28.
To register and find out more about the awards, see www.rospa.com/awards.
