The annual RoSPA Occupational Health and Safety Awards were presented during Safety & Health Expo in May, where Balfour Beatty Construction Scottish and Southern Ltd was named as the winner of the top gong.
The firm, which has its headquarters in Edinburgh, was presented with the Sir George Earle Trophy and also won the Construction Industry Sector Award. The RoSPA awards panel was particularly impressed with how the company was stepping up to the challenge of delivering the corporate Balfour Beatty goal of “zero harm” by 2012, and by the strong and creative approach developed by its senior management team.
RoSPA chief executive, Tom Mullarkey, said: “Balfour Beatty Construction Scottish and Southern has put down a solid benchmark for accident and ill-health prevention that we hope other firms will strive to achieve. The company’s overall approach to health and safety is not to punish or stigmatise, but to encourage behaviour change by entering into dialogue with workers and also by celebrating success.”
Bob Clark, managing director, Balfour Beatty Construction Scottish and Southern, said: “We are delighted to have received such a prestigious award as the Sir George Earle Trophy. The award recognises the ongoing effort, commitment and engagement of our employees in promoting a safe working culture.”
New to this year’s programme was the SME Assistance Trophy, sponsored by BHSF, for the best contribution by a trade association or similar body assisting small and medium-sized firms with health and safety. It was won by the British Constructional Steelwork Association Ltd.
Among the other winners of specialist awards were: Park Health (a joint venture between Sypol Ltd and Duradiamond Healthcare), which received the Astor Trophy for the best-managed occupational health programme; Warings Contractors Ltd, which picked up the International Dilmun Environmental Award, sponsored by GPIC; Tesco Dotcom, which won the Managing Occupational Road Risk Trophy, sponsored by Allianz insurance; and Devonport Naval Base, which collected the Workforce Involvement in Safety and Health Trophy, sponsored by Springfields Fuels Ltd.
The full list of winners is on the RoSPA website at www.rospa.com/awards
