Allied has been recognised over several years for consistently high standards in Health & Safety by RoSPA. We recently spoke with Wayne Taylor, our Health, Safety & Environment Manager, about receiving our fifth Gold Award in a row in and what it took to achieve it.
We recently received a consecutive 5th RoSPA Gold Award. What is RoSPA and what is a gold award?
WAYNE – They’re the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, a not-for-profit organisation that has worked for more than 100 years to help people recognise and reduce their risk of accidents at home, on the road, at work and at leisure.
They’ve been the leaders in accident prevention in the UK and further afield for many years and the awards are a way to showcase continued achievement in Health and Safety at a business.
Gold is the highest level of award you can achieve and winning it five years in a row then awards you a RoSPA Gold Medal for consistent standards of Health and Safety.
How hard is it to achieve a RoSPA Gold Award?
W – You have to be able to demonstrate as a business that you’ve made continued steps towards health and safety excellence. The whole gist of health and safety is about being able to continuously improve. It’s a journey not a destination and we’ve worked hard to achieve consistently high standards. That’s never easy but nothing worthwhile ever is.
Who was involved in the win?
W – Everyone at Allied. You need leadership from Directors, the HSE committee and everybody buying in to what we’re trying to do. The focus on safety from everyone at Allied is what makes achievements like this possible.
What does it mean for the business?
W – To achieve gold recognition for our Health and Safety performance once is a proud moment, but to have achieved it five years in a row solidifies our commitment. It shows our staff, potential future staff and other businesses that Health and Safety is a priority at Allied.
What did we do differently this year to previous years?
W – Part of the evidence for this year was based around working safely on electric vehicles. This shows our ability to adapt to new ways of work safely and our commitment to going green. It also showed we were able to put a safe system in place for working with those vehicles.
Is there anything you’re particularly proud of this year?
W – I’m still always learning but I’ve been able to develop as the business has developed and have enjoyed that process. I’m proud of the growth we’ve both been through.
How hard has the journey to five in a row been?
W – Working through COVID and then through increases in volume and staffing levels over the last year or so have brought unexpected challenges but we’ve come through those challenges with high and consistent safety standards. One of the highlights of that period was bringing in battery tooling instead of compressed air which has reduced risks for Hand Arm Vibration which has been a real improvement.
Any final thoughts?
W – Congratulations to all colleagues who have contributed by engaging in organisation-wide practices and initiatives to keep the business safe for all.
Thanks Wayne and well done to everyone at Allied. If you’d like to work at a company where Health and Safety is gold medal standard, then click here to see our current vacancies.
