RoSPA Press Office : Press Release

June 30, 2009
PROFESSIONALS HONOURED FOR SERVICE TO HEALTH AND SAFETY

Two professionals whose work helps save lives and reduce work-related ill health and injuries have had their efforts recognised by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

Professor Neil Budworth, corporate health and safety manager for E.ON in the UK and a visiting lecturer at Loughborough University, and Dr Steven Sadhra, of the University of Birmingham, have been honoured as recipients of the safety charity’s Distinguished Service Awards.

RoSPA Distinguished Service Awards are reserved for individuals who make exceptional contributions to society through their work in health and safety.

Professor Budworth has worked as a health and safety adviser in the chemical, engineering, printing and utilities sectors while achieving a series of higher academic qualifications in occupational safety, health and environmental management.

A former president of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), Professor Budworth has helped to lead the organisation’s policies on the safety of young people and on occupational health ever since he joined in 1990. He has undertaken extensive research, including into the management of lifting in the workplace, with a special emphasis on the management of back pain.

Dr Sadhra, director of education for occupational health at the University of Birmingham’s Institute of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, has made enormous contributions to the field through research, education and training. In his current role, he develops occupational health training for undergraduate, postgraduate and professional courses.

As a prolific author, lecturer and examiner for both Masters programmes and doctorate projects, Dr Sadhra has inspired many others to aim for the highest standards. Many of his more than 65 publications are required reading in university courses in the UK and beyond.

Dr Sadhra also recently headed a research team conducting Europe-wide health risk assessments for chemicals.

Tom Mullarkey, RoSPA chief executive, said: “RoSPA Distinguished Service Awards are a tremendous way of honouring those who deserve our recognition and respect.

“Dr Sadhra and Professor Budworth fit this bill entirely. They are sterling examples of professionals whose work really makes a difference, and whose efforts in their field have a direct and positive impact on the lives of workers.”

The awards were presented during RoSPA’s annual Occupational Health and Safety Awards in Birmingham last month.