Qserv Reach Pinnacle Of Safety Success With Sword Of Honour Award
04 December 2008
04 December 2008
Qserv, the specialist well, process and pipeline service company headquartered in Aberdeen, Scotland has been presented with the British Safety Council's prestigious Sword of Honour for its exceptional safety record and systems. Each year only 40 organisations worldwide receive the accolade, which is widely recognised as the pinnacle of international health and safety awards.
It caps an incredible year for the Qserv as the company achieved a five star safety grading from the British Safety Council in March and won a fourth consecutive International Safety Award in May. The sword was presented to Qserv's HSEQ manager Alistair Cameron by the British Safety Council's chief executive, Brian Nimick, in front of 200 health and safety experts at the glittering ceremony held at Goldsmith's Hall, London.
To be considered for the prize, companies must achieve the maximum five star rating in the Council's health and safety management system audit. Firms must also prove they have successfully developed a safety culture which consistently strives for best practice and is integrated across the organisation from the boardroom to the workshop. Rigorous assessments are conducted by an independent adjudicating panel which assess all aspects of safety activity.
One key factor behind Qserv's success is it continually stresses the need for employee participation in all HSEQ matters. The employee improvement award scheme and Safety Training Observation Program (STOP) are just two initiatives which encourage and facilitate involvement. HSEQ advisor and former HSEQ manager, David Staniforth, was the driving force behind such programmes and now works with current HSEQ manager Alistair Cameron to ensure the company remains at the forefront of safety processes and procedures.
Alistair Cameron said: ”Receiving the sword has cemented our position as industry leaders in health and safety. It is a major milestone and shows the investment and hard work that every employee has put in to create a truly safe working environment has been worthwhile. Through dedication and buy-in across the company, we have integrated safe, sound and sustainable working practices which are adopted by all.
“We feel our safety record gives us a competitive edge and I am confident the award will have a positive effect on our business. However, we will not rest on our laurels as safety and delivering a quality service will remain our priority going forward.”
In congratulating Qserv, chief executive of the British Safety Council, Brian Nimick, said: “Each winner of the Sword of Honour has demonstrated that in addition to ensuring extremely high standards of health and safety in the workplace, they have also considered how their business impacts on others.”
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, added: “I send my congratulations to all of those organisations being presented with a Sword of Honour by the British Safety Council. These awards recognise the crucial success that they and their employees have achieved in their pursuit of excellence in the management of health, safety and environmental matters.”
