The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has presented occupational health and safety awards to 140 firms in the transport, storage and distribution sector.

The winner of the Transport, Storage and Distribution Sector was named as Northern Rail, with JCB Service highly commended and NHS Supply Chain commended in the sector.

Dubai-based Tristar Transport was announced as the winner of the prestigious Managing Occupational Road Risk (MORR) Trophy, a prize honouring the organisation which demonstrates the most effective and cohesive MORR programme, supported by historical performance data. Colas Limited was highly commended in this category.

L-R: Errol Taylor, RoSPA deputy chief executive, Gary Stewart, safety and assurance director at Northern Rail, and Lord Brougham and Vaux, vice-president of RoSPA.

Cemex UK Operations Limited – Logistics became the first company to win RoSPA’s new MORR Technology Trophy, sponsored by Tesco Dotcom, in recognition of its use of the latest technology to cut work-related road accidents. It has developed, trialled and invested in an innovative bespoke system to alert its drivers when pedal cyclists are nearby, including sensors, additional blind spot mirrors and camera systems.

Other firms won non-competitive awards at a range of achievement levels.

In total, about 1,500 awards were presented face-to-face during three days of ceremonies in Birmingham last week (May 14 to 16).

L-R: Errol Taylor, RoSPA deputy chief executive, Muhammed Akber, general manager of operations at Tristar Transport, and Lord Brougham and Vaux, vice-president of RoSPA.

Dating back 57 years, the RoSPA Occupational Health and Safety Awards scheme is the largest and longest-running programme of its kind in the UK and one of the most prestigious in the world in any discipline. It recognises commitment to accident and ill health prevention and is open to businesses and organisations of all types and sizes from across the UK and overseas. It not only looks at accident records, but also entrants’ overarching health and safety management systems, including practices such as leadership and workforce involvement.   

The majority of awards that RoSPA presents are non-competitive, marking achievement at merit, bronze, silver and gold levels. Organisations maintaining high standards can win gold medals, president’s awards and orders of distinction. Competitive awards are presented in more than 20 sectors, and competitive awards also recognise excellence in specialist areas, such as the management of occupational road risk (MORR).   

L-R: Errol Taylor, RoSPA deputy chief executive, Carl Milton, regional logistics manager at Cemex UK Operations – logistics division, and Lord Jordan of Bournville, RoSPA president.

David Rawlins, awards manager at RoSPA, a safety charity with a history stretching back 97 years, said: “RoSPA firmly believes that organisations that demonstrate commitment to continuous improvement in accident and ill health prevention deserve recognition. Our winners have shown that they are committed to striving for such continuous improvement and we congratulate them on their achievements.”   

In addition to the awards presented in Birmingham, other winners have opted to receive their awards through the post or to attend a ceremony in Glasgow, to be held in September.