Deadline for International Safety Awards extended to 9 February 2015

Now in their 57th year, these awards recognise organisations from around the world that have shown a real dedication and commitment to keeping their workplaces and workers healthy and safe during the 2014 calendar year. Owing to the level of interest in these awards, the deadline has been extended to Monday, 9 February 2015.

Open to businesses of all sizes and sectors in the UK and internationally – both members of the British Safety Council and non-members – the awards seek to celebrate the difference the winning organisations have made in ensuring good standards of health and safety at work.

This year, high performing winning organisations will once again be nominated for additional ‘Sector Awards’, which recognise outstanding sites and business units within certain industries.

Applicants may also nominate employees for two special individual awards: ‘Health and Safety Champion of the Year’ and ‘Young Health and Safety Champion of the Year’.

Neal Stone, Acting Chief Executive at the British Safety Council, said: “The International Safety Awards reward the winning organisations for their vital efforts and hard work over the past year in protecting the health and safety of their staff and others who could be put at risk by their day-to-day activities.

“Winning an International Safety Award allows an organisation to demonstrate its commitment to good health and safety management to its employees, business partners, customers and the wider public.

“By publicising their success, winning organisations can also help encourage other employers globally to give workers’ health and safety the priority it deserves; and spread the message that effective health and safety management brings real benefits for people, organisations and society as a whole.”

One organisation that is once again applying for an International Safety Award this year is Gwynedd Shipping Group of Holyhead in Angelsey, Wales. Dylan Hughes, the company’s group HSEQ HR manager, said: “Winning an International Safety Award not only gives us the confidence of knowing that what we are doing is working, but it is also an excellent way for us to showcase our achievements to our customers.”

Last year, 524 organisations of all sizes and from a wide range of industry sectors and countries won an International Safety Award, including businesses, public and third sector bodies from the UK, Africa, Asia, Australia, the Middle East and the West Indies.

How to apply

The International Safety Awards relate to the health and safety management at a specific site or business unit, and organisations can enter as many sites or divisions as they wish. Applicants answer 12 online questions about their management of health and safety risks, which are assessed by independent chartered health and safety professionals. If the application meets the required standard, a pass, merit or – for really exceptional submissions – a distinction is awarded.

Apply at www.britsafe.org/isa

Celebrate at the Gala Dinner
The winners of this year’s awards will be invited to mark their achievements at the spectacular International Safety Awards Gala Dinner, which takes place at the renowned Grosvenor House Hotel in London’s Mayfair on the night of Friday 24 April 2015.

Attended by hundreds of businesses and individuals from the UK and internationally, the black-tie event features the formal presentation of the awards and an evening of fine dining, live entertainment and dancing.

The evening provides a great opportunity for the winning companies to reward their employees and business partners for their contribution to achieving good health and safety standards, and is also open to any organisation or individual in the UK or internationally that wishes to celebrate their commitment to health and safety among like-minded businesses.

There is an early bird offer in place for tickets to the dinner until 12 March 2015. For full details see: www.britsafe.org/galadinner