DP, I saw your question yesterday and my initial thought was to roll out my standard, cynical, reply. However, I try to avoid shooting from the lip so after thinking about my answer I offer these thoughts; The RoSPA award scheme has it's place in demonstrating a commitment to H&S management Awards provide purchasers of services a bench mark to challenge suppliers with - we have an award, what do you have? Awards provide suppliers with a bench mark to demonstrate their H&S against - we can demonstrate an award level, what do you require? For me, as someone who writes and submits the application there is a weakness in the award process. There is no feedback - I submit an application, I support that application with a shed load of evidence and a few weeks later I receive notification of the award recommendation. No feedback re weaknesses or things to look at. Just a free ticket to a Gala Awards Night Out. For me the RoSPA QSA audit is a much better way forward, but it is expensive both in time, money and stress levels. The awards have their place, BUT, no one award is perfect, Jim RoSPA Order of Distinction and QSA Level 4 Platinum Award

It depends upon the type of award. e.g.. The RoSPA Achievement Awards and BSC International Safety Awards are judged on the basis of a documented submission addressing the key questions and other information required. If you meet all the criteria, you get the award. RoSPA Achievement Awards have a gradation, i.e Bronze, Silver, Gold and the based on consecutive receipt of Gold Awards, other "honours". In my view, the admin time required for these submissions is significant, but can be less if you have good systems. http://www.rospa.com/awa.../achievement-awards.aspx https://www.britsafe.org...ernational-safety-awards Going on to the next level, e.g the RoSPA Industry Sector Awards, the applicant has to submit more evidence and it has to be more in-depth. The challenge for many organisations that are at the top of performance is to demonstrate the percentage improvements made etc, and that is not simple compared to organisations that have lower performance, but can demonstrate a higher percent improvement. In my view, this award is for exemplary performance http://www.rospa.com/awa...ustry-sector-awards.aspx https://www.britsafe.org/awards/sword-honour Similarly, the BSC "Sword of Honour" is for exeplary performance and all applicants need to have got 5 Stars as a minimum to apply! However, there is no awards system that can guarantee that there will not be fatalities or serious accidents. In some organisations, it can be a "good thing" to celebrate the success and some do so by attending the awards ceremony etc. It is a type of "kudos" , but it has its limitations too and those vetting tender applications etc when assessing competence should be aware of the limitations if awards information is included. We have just been informed that we have won our 11the consecutive gold medal award, but we have opted to get the certificate via post. However, we will take our health & safety committee for a lunch to celebrate this instead of going out on a "jolly" to Birmingham as some may view it!

Sorry Jake. ;-)) Actually my most powerful tool for persuading Management to behave is the USA panel review report of the BP US oil refineries. Sad person that I am, I've read the whole 350 + pages - its very insightful about how top managers can behave when they loose sight of what really matters If its any consolation " there but the grace of god" go many big multinationals

meh. Much of a muchness. RoSPA are in bed with the British Safety Council and IIRSM in a similar way as NEBOSH shares a room with IOSH. I think you pay your money and order your awards. 1 from 13 sites in a previous role was a fully paid up RoSPA site as the Safety Manager was British Safety Council Fanboy. By no stretch of the imagination were they the 'safest' site in the group and they got gold medals for years on end (10+ I recall). Somewhere in the middle of that little lot the site also had a fatality - I can assure you I am not making this up. Hence - meh.

We have recently held our own safety awards gala - it received a massive respoonse from the employees - we are big 6K employees - but few of the operations guys would have any concept who BSC or IOSH are whereas an internal event hosted by the Directors really demonstrated good behaviours and leadership.

Rayrapp I totally agree with what you say about H&S awards, I know if we have done a good job when 350 employees walk through the gates to start work and 350 employees leave work at the end of the day un-injured.