College strikes Gold again for quality of health and safety standards

Abingdon & Witney College has retained its prestigious Gold Achievement Award from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), in recognition of its practices and achievements in helping staff, students, visitors and contractors get home safely at the end of the working day.

The panel of judges, consisting of highly experienced health and safety professionals, consider a business’ various health and safety actions and focus on how accidents at work can be reduced through risk assessment and management.

The internationally-renowned RoSPA Health and Safety Awards is the longest-running industry awards scheme in the UK, with the College having first achieved Gold back in April 2018.

Julia Small, RoSPA’s head of qualifications, awards and events, said: “The RoSPA Awards are the most highly-respected in the health and safety arena, with almost 2,000 entrants every year, and allow organisations to prove excellence in the workplace, demonstrating a commitment to the wellbeing of not only employees but all those who interact with it.”

The majority of awards are non-competitive and mark achievement at merit, bronze, silver and gold levels. Gold medals, president’s awards, orders of distinction and the Patron’s Award are presented to organisations sustaining the high standards of the gold level over consecutive years.

The College continually seeks to improve its health and safety – from how effective health and safety communication is within the organisation, to its performance in investigating incidents at the workplace.

In addition, Con Turnbull has been awarded the prestigious Pride Award by RoSPA, honouring the contribution Con has made to safe working and learning at the College. The individual award recognisies stand-out efforts and achievements of individuals whose approach have had a huge, potentially life-saving impact on the health and safety of others.

Con Turnbull (right) and John Revis

John Revis, Head of Occupational Safety & Health, said: “The College is very proud of its health and safety culture, as it is given a high profile by Governors, Senior Leaders and Managers but more importantly we have a whole business approach. Working with RoSPA helps to ensure that we have the knowledge and support to keep staff and students safer at work.”

“I’d also like to take this chance to congratulate Con on his fantastic achievement.”

The College will be presented with the award during a ceremony at Hilton Birmingham Metropole hotel on Thursday, June 6, 2019.