RoSPA Awards Frequently Asked Questions
Read a complete list of Awards FAQs here.
Q: Our organisation has not entered for a RoSPA Award before. What do we do?
A:
- Read about the awards on the RoSPA website and choose which category you wish to enter.
- Register and pay online.
- RoSPA will send you the Award Entry USB Key(s) required for your entry
- Follow the Award USB Key instructions on how to compile your entry, and save the submission to the USB key.
- Keep a copy of your final collated entry
- Return the USB key(s) to the RoSPA Awards Department
The instructions are straightforward but if you need any advice, we will be pleased to help.
Q: Our organisation has previously entered the RoSPA Awards, but this year we have merged with other unit(s)/companies. Should we enter as a whole or individually - and what happens about our past record in the Awards scheme?
A: Ideally you should enter as separate units (which must all show local evidence of implementation of your corporate systems). If you choose to submit a combined entry for the merged organisation and some, but not all constituent units, have previously won sustained achievement awards (Gold Medal, President’s Award or Order of Distinction) RoSPA will judge the appropriate level of award for the new body. In the event of the newly-formed entity not achieving the required standard for Gold, the previous awards history for other sites will be lost. For mergers of different companies, the judges will look for the merged organisation’s health and safety management system performance to be equal to or better than the standard recognised previously by a RoSPA Award. If in doubt, merged organisations will be treated as new entries.
Q: How do we qualify for the early-bird discount?
A: Register online to enter, on or before 4 November 2011.
Entries received from November 5, 2011 up to and including December 1, 2011 will be charged the relevant standard rate.
Entries* for which the Awards USB Key(s) are received after February 1, 2012 will incur the late entry fee of £85 +VAT
Q: What happens if our Awards USB Key arrives after the closing date?
A:
- Sector Awards: The entry will be excluded from the competitive award category and will be assessed for an achievement award instead.
- Achievement Awards: RoSPA reserves the right to refuse late entries but may still be able to accept them, although a penalty fee (£85 +VAT) will be payable. Due to tight schedules, late entries are unlikely to be judged in time for inclusion in the Birmingham ceremonies in May. If you wish to have any resulting award presented, we will give you the option of attending the September ceremony in Glasgow.
Q: How do we find out our Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Code?
A: Click on the link below to see an alphabetical list of work activities. (This link is also provided during the Awards registration process). Find the description(s) that best fits your organisation - the full SIC(2007) Code required is the Section letter(s), followed by the two digits to the left of the decimal point in the right hand column.
Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Codes
Q: Individual sites/parts of our organisation would like to receive their own award - what should we do?
A: Separate achievement award* applications should be made by the respective sites. As well as documents such as the corporate health and safety policy, applications must include information relating to the individual sites, eg local risk assessments, local H&S meetings, local inspections, evidence of local monitoring activities, local audit results (if applicable) etc. Failure to provide sufficient evidence of local implementation of corporate procedures etc is a common factor limiting the award that can be made.
Q: We do not have all the required signatures. Does this matter?
A: Yes – one or more missing signatures must be explained as they may disqualify the entry. The range of acceptable signatories to countersign the entry has been significantly increased. Please do not return your Award USB Key until all signatures have been obtained.
Q: Have you received our entry?
A: Please do not ring up to ask this question. We will notify you by email of receipt of your USB Key as soon as it has been processed, but we cannot search for specific entries among the very large volume of post we receive. In the meantime, if you sent it using Royal Mail recorded delivery or a courier service you will be able to confirm it has been delivered by contacting them direct.
Q: What if we would like feedback on our submission?
A: Provision of brief feedback is included within the Sector Award entry fee. Feedback can also be provided for Achievement Award entries for an extra £180 +VAT (RoSPA Members) and £200 +VAT (Non-Members). This should be indicated when you register to enter as later requests for formal feedback will incur higher charges. Feedback will not be provided otherwise, as the standard assessments to determine the appropriate grade does not involve recording observations for feedback. The feedback reflects the relative strengths and weaknesses in the content of the written submission, as observed by RoSPA's expert assessors. For many entrants, this is helpful in indicating priorities for performance improvement. However, it is not a comprehensive action plan. Participation in the awards programme should not be regarded as a substitute for detailed on-site audit of safety management systems, which may be required for further improvement, particularly in the case of higher performers.
Read a complete list of Awards FAQs here.