Euro safety awards for Northern Ireland

Three local organisations have been recognised at an official ceremony for their efforts in creating a safer and healthier workplace.

Maydown Contractors, NTL and Unison (Down Lisburn Trust) joined 34 other organisations from across the UK at an awards ceremony in Edinburgh, where they received a prestigious national Euro Week award. This year's awards mark the first time that firms from Northern Ireland have been able to enter the competition, which is open to organisations, companies and workplaces regardless of size and sector.

The accolade is given to reward the efforts of companies during the European Week for Safety and Health, an initiative which aims to raise awareness of the human and economic toll of workplace accidents. In Northern Ireland alone, 16 people died and nearly 4,500 were reported injured at work during 2001 -costing the local economy some £500 million in monetary terms.

Commenting on the province's representation at the awards ceremony, Permanent Secretary Bruce Robinson, said: "This is a great boost to Northern Ireland and says much about the approach taken by the winners to health and safety at work.

"Effective health and safety management is a critical component of any successful and profitable business or organisation. It must be part of good corporate governance and fully addressed in a business's risk management strategy. It must be pro-active and successfully integrated into the day-to-day management of all business operations."

Liam McBrinn, Chairperson of the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI), added:

"The European Week is a golden opportunity to raise the profile of health and safety in workplaces across the length and breadth of Northern Ireland. All businesses should play their part and compete for an award.

"Whilst there is rightly a concentration of effort during the European Week we must not lose sight of the fact that the effective management of health and safety must take place 365 days a year."

(CL)