Welsh company wins coveted safety award

Gas emergency and pipeline service, Wales & West Utilities, has been recognised for the eighth consecutive year by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).

The company has received its eighth gold award in recognition of its outstanding and exemplary health and safety record, whilst it has also been highly commended in the Oil & Gas Industry Sector.

Wales & West Utilities is the company that look after the pipes that keep the gas flowing to heat the homes and power businesses of 7.5m people across Wales and south west England. They operate the gas emergency service, connect new homes and businesses, and upgrade the gas network so it’s safe today and ready to transport green gases like hydrogen and biomethane.

Graham Edwards, Wales & West Utilities Chief Executive said: “We’re delighted to receive this prestigious award from our peers at RoSPA, recognising our world leading safety record. The awards are highly regarded in the health and safety field and our success is a testament to the continued hard work and commitment of our colleagues.

“Health and safety is at the heart of everything we do. From responding to gas emergencies and supporting the most vulnerable, to making sure young people know all about the dangers posed by carbon monoxide, the safety of our colleagues and the communities we serve is a top priority for us.

“Now, more than ever, we are committed to do everything we can to keep people right across Wales and south west England safe and warm, with a gas supply they can rely on and level of service they can trust.”

Julia Small, RoSPA’s achievements director said: “RoSPA’s mission to save lives and reduce injuries covers all ages and stages of life. The RoSPA Awards recognise commitment to continuous improvement in accident and ill health prevention at work. Organisations receiving a RoSPA Award are recognised as being world-leaders in health and safety practice. Every year, nearly 2,000 entrants vie to achieve the highest possible accolade in what is the UK’s longest-running H&S industry awards.

“The RoSPA Award scheme is the longest running of its kind in the UK, but it receives entries from organisations across the globe, making it one of the most sought-after achievement awards for health and safety worldwide.

“RoSPA is very proud of the achievements of its entrants, and with this award we recognise the best of the best, those organisations that have gone the extra mile, raising the bar for the delivery of safety in the workplace. Employees should be able to go to work safe in the knowledge that they will return home unharmed and healthy at the end of every day. Our RoSPA Award winners are central to achieving this goal. By entering they are driving up standards and setting new safety benchmarks for organisations across the world.”

The awards programme, which is sponsored by NEBOSH (the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health), is the largest occupational health and safety awards programme in the UK. It recognises organisations’ commitment to continuous improvement in the prevention of accidents and ill health at work, looking at entrants’ overarching health and safety management systems, including practices such as leadership and workforce involvement.