RoSPA Press Office : Press Release

August 16 , 2006
AWARDS TO RECOGNISE BEHAVIOURAL SAFETY LEADERS

RoSPA and behavioural-safety specialists Ryder-Marsh* are seeking businesses and organisations that lead the way in avoiding accidents by eliminating human error.

They have teamed up to promote the Behavioural Safety and Best Practice Awards, which show that companies that have effective health and safety management systems in place can further enhance their performance by focusing on behavioural issues.

Entrants are required to describe clearly the behavioural safety initiatives or processes which they have established in their organisation.

All successful participants will receive a certificate of achievement. The best three, selected by an independent judging panel, will each be invited to make a short presentation during the Behavioural Safety User Conference on December 6. Delegates at the event at the International Centre, Telford, will vote for which entry should win the Allan Poole Trophy for Outstanding Achievement.

Closing date for entries is October 16. The conference and awards are supported by Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance, the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health and the Health and Safety Executive.

Submissions must demonstrate a robust health and safety management systems approach and specifically must address the ‘Six Pillars’ of Behavioural Safety: workforce ownership, measurement (and goal-setting), root-cause analysis, management and supervision, awareness raising, and communication and feedback.

Last year more than 30 businesses were honoured for the way they managed behavioural safety.

Organisations wishing to enter or attend should see www.rospa.com/behavioural , telephone 0121 248 2094or contact awards@rospa.com .

Roger Bibbings, RoSPA Occupational Safety Adviser, said: “Addressing behavioural safety plays an increasingly important part in sustaining safe and healthy working. Correctly applied, it can add significant value and boost workforce and manager involvement throughout the organisation.”

*Ryder-Marsh are European leaders in the field of behavioural safety. Tim Marsh, Managing Director of Ryder-Marsh, was one of the leaders of the initial research project into behavioural safety in the early 1990s. Ryder Marsh conceived this open learning, networking and best practice event in 1998 as an extension of this research. It has become the largest of its type in Europe.