RBH leads the way on health and safety

Date article online: 09/04/2008

The organisation that manages Rochdale’s council houses has won two awards for its Health and Safety performance.

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) won one of the “Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents” Gold Awards scooped an International Safety Award from the British Safety Council.

Awards manager David Rawlins said: “RBH has shown a commitment to protecting the health ad well-being of its 600-strong workforce and its customers. We hope other businesses and organisations will follow its lead and strive for continuous improvement in health and safety management."

Walt Leebetter, RBH Health and Safety Manager added: “We are constantly updating our health and safety systems to ensure we protect the welfare of all our staff and customers, when we are working in their homes and are delighted that our endeavours have been recognized. We will be presented with the Gold Award at a national ceremony in May.”

RBH won an International Safety Award for the fourth consecutive year.

Only companies with below average accident rates can apply and winners must also have good safety policies, plans and commitment to health and safety at the highest board level. They must detail their health and safety officers’ qualifications and provide information about significant advances they have made in health and safety for the year.

Brian Nimick, Chief Executive of the British Safety Council, said: “In the 21st century, many organisations worldwide are now making health and safety a top priority. Through achieving an International Award, RBH are helping to make our vision of a safe working environment a reality and to have gained this for the fourth year is an outstanding achievement.”

There was even a message of congratulations from Prime Minister Gordon Brown: “These awards recognise the success that these organisations and their employees have achieved in their pursuit of excellence in the management of health, safety and environmental matters. The Government would like to place on record appreciation of the support given by the Council in raising awareness of the benefits that effective health, safety and environmental management brings to business, employees, the environment and the economy as a whole.”