Local companies recognised at health and safety awards

NIO Trade Minister Ian Pearson has congratulated the 16 winners of the second regional European Week for Safety and Health Awards organised by HSENI.

The organisations received an award for the efforts they had gone to in support of European Week for Safety and Health 2002, the theme of which was 'Working on Stress'.

Recent statistics indicate that, each year, over 15,500 people in Northern Ireland experience work-related stress, anxiety or depression that impacts directly on their health. It is estimated that 70,000 people in Northern Ireland suffer from ill health caused by work at a cost to the local economy of £330 million of each year. The challenge in European Week 2002 was, according to the NIO, to "pro-actively tackle this issue".

Many organisations in Northern Ireland took up the challenge, coming up with a variety of different ways to address this problem in the workplace.

The Minister told the winners that they "can be proud of both the quantity and quality of your efforts".

He added: “It is essential that we all wake up to the impact poor workplace health can have on all our lives and its cost to the Northern Ireland economy as a whole. Finding ways to minimise poor health at work is an integral part of the forthcoming 'Working for Health' strategy to be launched next month.

“The need for this strategy is clearly demonstrated by the unacceptable level of work related ill health in Northern Ireland.

“The winning companies should be commended for their work in promoting healthier workplaces. We should all face up to the challenge of creating a work culture that protects, promotes and supports health and well being.”

The 16 European Week Regional Award Winners are: Armagh and Dungannon Health and Social Services Trust; Atlas Environmental (NI) Limited; Business in the Community (NI); The Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA); Craigavon and Banbridge Community Health and Social Services Trust; Derry City Council; Down Lisburn Health and Social Services Trust Health and Safety at Work Committee; Forensic Science Northern Ireland; Green Park Health care Trust; John Henderson Group; Maydown Contractors at Du Pont; North & West Housing Limited; Omagh and Fermanagh Health Branch 05113 Unison; Personnel, Information Management and Services Division, DETI; Seagoe Technologies Limited; and Sx3.

Over the past 30 months HSENI has successfully introduced the European Week for Safety and Health awards Scheme to Northern Ireland. This awards scheme, which was originally only available in Great Britain, recognises the efforts of companies during the European Week in promoting good health and safety practice.

The top two regional entrants will go forward to represent Northern Ireland in the National Awards to be held in Cardiff on the 20 March 2003.

(GMcG)