RoSPA Press Office : Press Release

May 12, 2006
NAVAL BASE WINS TOP HEALTH AND SAFETY AWARD

Naval Base Commander (NBC) Devonport has been presented with RoSPA’s top occupational health and safety award, the Sir George Earle Trophy.

It is awarded by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents for the most outstanding performance in health and safety by a company or organisation.

NBC beat off tough competition from a short list of finalists, all of which demonstrated very high levels of health and safety management performance.

The award was presented to Commodore Simon Lister at RoSPA’s Occupational Health and Safety Awards dinner at the Birmingham Hilton Metropole last night (Thursday May 11) by Lord Jordan of Bournville, the Society’s deputy president.

Many features in NBC’s entry impressed the independent awards panel, including its improved health and safety performance in a constantly changing working environment with major hazard and nuclear safety challenges. The base’s health and safety regime showed the ability to build on and adapt advice and guidance provided centrally by the Ministry of Defence.

The judges noted the personal commitment of senior managers, including the Commodore and Captain Base Safety, and the very positive contribution of trade unions and the workforce generally.

A major success was in working effectively with other business partners on site, including a large number and constantly changing range of contractors.

The panel was also impressed by NBC’s efforts to work with its local community in and around Plymouth and to benchmark key aspects of its performance with other organisations.

There was a strong focus on off-the-job safety, particularly road safety, and the overall culture demonstrated a positive approach in ensuring effective co-operation between civilian and military personnel.

Roger Bibbings, RoSPA Occupational Safety Adviser, said: “NBC is a large, complex operation. It must be congratulated for the way it has met the health and safety challenges arising from business and structural change while maintaining excellent relationships with the local community and between civilian and military staff.”

Commodore Lister said: “I am delighted that we have received such a prestigious award. This has been the result of hard and diligent work by our workforce and shows our total commitment to health and safety within the navy base.”