World’s ‘best of the best’ in health, safety and wellbeing recognised
Published: 13 June, 2024
British Safety Council held its annual Gala Dinner on 7 June to celebrate the winners of its International Safety Awards (ISAs) 2024 at the Intercontinental London Park Lane hotel in London. This is the 66th year the awards have taken place and the 64th year of a gala dinner.
The prestigious event was hosted by Gemma Oaten, actress and founder and CEO of the charity SEED, with speeches by British Safety Council CEO, Mike Robinson, its chairman Peter McGettrick, and Ruth Denyer, Co-President of the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM) as well as Senior Director Production Health and Safety at Netflix.
The event combined both a formal presentation ceremony with a dinner and evening of live entertainment.
This year, 1148 organisations of all sizes and sectors won British Safety Council’s acclaimed ISA awards. They came from as far as Africa, Asia, India, mainland Europe and the Middle East. 278 applicants achieved a distinction, 463 achieved a merit and 407 achieved a pass.
Only the best of the best wins an overall category award, and a full list of the winners is below.
The ceremony also incorporated the 7th Mates in Mind Impact Awards, which are given by British Safety Council’s sister charity, Mates in Mind, to companies seeking to improve mental health at work, especially in the construction sector. This year’s Impact Awards were sponsored by Balfour Beatty.
Speaking at the event, Chief Executive of British Safety Council, Mike Robinson said: “At a time when people’s safety around the world is being put at ever more risk by conflict and climate change it is all the more important we celebrate the efforts and successes by organisations everywhere in keeping their people safe, well and healthy in the International Safety Awards and associated free to enter awards.
“It is so rewarding to see the award winners demonstrating such commitment to improving the health, safety and wellbeing of their organisations, as well as helping celebrate the British Safety Council’s sixty-six years of improving health and safety standards around the world. Our vision - that no-one is injured or made ill through their work - requires more than just legislation; it requires people to be inspired to drive for continual improvement. But for people to be inspired they need to be engaged, and celebrating success is one of the very best ways of engaging people.
“We had a record number of entries for the International Safety Awards this year with entrants from over 50 countries and I’m delighted to say that the overall standard has been higher than ever before. Along with the Mates in Mind Impact Awards we are delighted to see this event, and the successes it showcases, go from strength to strength.”
In his address, Chairman of British Safety Council, Peter McGettrick said: “I know I speak for my fellow British Safety Council board members and trustees when I say just how impressed we were this year with the award entries we received. Each year the number of entries goes up, as well as the scale of the achievements.
“We’re just over a month away from marking another major milestone in the history of health and safety. On 31 July, it will be half a century since the Health and Safety at Work Act came into force in 1974. Its legacy is not just here in this room, it is felt in every single workplace up and down the country. Put simply, the Health and Safety at Work Act revolutionised workplace safety in the UK and set a new standard which many other countries have since followed.
“We are proud of everything you have achieved, and I feel privileged to celebrate your amazing successes here and look forward to working with you all in the years to come.”
In her keynote address, Ruth Denyer reflected on her career in the health and safety industry from her first job at the National Theatre, her time at ITV, to her current role as Senior Director of Production Health and Safety at Netflix focusing on EMEA, as well as Co-President of the IIRSM.
Whether lassoing with Hugh Jackman, producing TV’s Celebrity Shark Bait, spearheading Netflix’s production health and safety culture, or working to promote women in the health and safety profession, Ruth’s anecdotes and insights underlined the impact that health and safety can make everywhere.
Ruth said: “One of my personal commitments to the profession has been to stand up and represent females in this type of forum, to try and be part of the change everyone I speak to wants to see. The job isn’t done yet. We shouldn’t just be thinking about ‘female representation’ but inclusion across the board - not only to attract a vast diversity of talent into the profession - but also supporting their development and ensuring they feel included and engaged with our communities.”
International Safety Awards 2024 – Category Winners
Free to Enter Awards
CEO of the Year
WINNER:
• Mr. Eyab Mijwal - Smart University of Science and Technology
Mr. Eyab Mijwal's exceptional contributions to the field of occupational health and safety at the Smart University of Science and Technology have been transformative and pioneering. His innovative initiatives and persistent dedication have not only elevated the safety standards but also significantly influenced the safety culture within and beyond the institution. His achievements are not just a reflection of his personal dedication but also serve as a benchmark for safety excellence, inspiring others to follow in his footsteps.
Health, Safety and Wellbeing Ambassador of the Year Award
WINNER:
• Mr. Arun Raveendran - National Contracting Co. Ltd.
Mr. Raveendran’s leadership ensured a balanced approach to operational risks and business profitability, enhancing the workplace's occupational, health, and environmental aspects and fostering a productive environment. His meticulous planning and execution in challenging environments demonstrated excellence in risk management, strategic planning, and safety leadership.
Health and Safety Transformation Award – sponsored by Croner–i
WINNER:
• Deepak Nitrite Ltd.
Deepak Nitrite’s primary objective was to enhance health and safety across their organisation. They aimed to implement a transformation that exceeded industry standards to ensure the wellbeing of employees and the community. Information played a pivotal role in the transformation journey. They leveraged data and insights to plan and execute changes effectively. From the development of the HSE portal to the online capturing of UA/UC, near misses and incidents, they used information-driven strategies to enhance safety measures. The positive impact was evident in the improved safety culture, early mitigation of incidents, and enhanced emergency preparedness.
Seize the Opportunity Award
WINNER:
• Dubai Municipality
Following the Covid pandemic, Dubai Municipality created a strategic vision to have a centralised Command and Control Centre (CCC) for managing and enhancing city operations. This initiative facilitate seamless steady state operations, city management, emergency response management and real time tracking of services and vital city metrics throughout Dubai city and supported the Smart City aspiration of the nation. This resulted in impressive improvements to response times, emergency response efficiency, emergency prediction accuracy and preparedness for emergencies and crisis.
The James Tye Award
WINNER:
• Dr. Hessa Jaffar Hassan Ali, Dubai Municipality - Health and Safety Department
Under the visionary leadership of Dr. Hessa Jaffar Hassan Ali, the awareness team of the Health and Safety Department launched an innovative campaign, positively impacting the health, safety and wellbeing of over 3.6 million workers in the Emirate of Dubai. A post-campaign assessment revealed an 85% awareness index among the targeted groups, indicating an increase in health and safety knowledge.
Team of the Year Award
WINNERS:
• Heather Wright and the H&S Team - Autism Care UK Ltd.
To grow a positive safety culture, the team created an environment where safety is a shared value, embedding a common perception of risk, open communications and sharing accountabilities among all employees. The team introduced a new risk management policy and framework, including a corporate risk register and function-specific registers. It strengthened a top-down safety approach with an integrated process ensuring systematic risk assessment and mitigation at all levels across all functions, promoting shared understanding of risk and ensuring leaders align safety priorities with their broader strategic goals. This led to a significant reduction in incidents and injuries.
Wellbeing Initiative Award – powered by Being Well Together
WINNER:
• Joseph Gallagher
The core focus of the Joseph Gallagher wellbeing initiative was to proactively enhance the mental health and wellbeing of their employees, particularly those on construction sites. Recognising the profound impact of mental health on both individual wellbeing and organisational performance, their goal was to cultivate a workplace environment that champions openness, support, and community. Taking a multifaceted approach, the initiative resulted in a more connected, positive workplace culture. Increased participation in events, positive feedback from employees, and enhanced fellowship were indicators of a strengthened community.
Best in Sector
Construction and Property Activities
• China Construction Third Bureau Group Co. Ltd – Ningbo Huamei Hospital Medical Complex Building Construction Project
Consultancy and Advisory
• Gardaworld Critical Infrastructure & Government Services
Education
• High Temperature Research Centre - University of Birmingham
Financial, IT, Legal, Scientific and Technical Services and Media
• Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP – London Office
Health and social care
• NHS Property Services Ltd
Leisure, Sports Clubs, Hospitality and Catering
• Arsenal Football Club
Local Government, Defence and Public Service
• BAE Systems Maritime Services
Manufacturing
• CSCEC Steel Industries LLC
Oil, Gas, Mining and Quarrying
• Hindalco Industries Limited, Samri Bauxite Mines
Onshore major hazard
• Arab Shipbuilding & Repair Yard (ASRY)
Power and Utilities
• KEC EPC LLC - N16685 132/22KV YAS II S/S
Transport, Distribution and Storage
• SunExpress Airlines
Wholesale and Retail Services
• Otokoç Otomotiv
Best in Country
China
• China Construction Seventh Engineering Division Corp. Ltd
Kuwait (joint winners)
• Kuwait National Petroleum Company - Head Office
• Kuwait National Petroleum Company - Mina Abdullah
Middle East (other)
• Design, Build And Operate Field Operating Base For Oman Shell At Block 10, Galfar Engineering & Contracting Saog, Sultanate Of Oman
Qatar
• ASHGHAL-KEO International Consultants-HBK CONTRACTING COMPANY-Roads & Infrastructure in Umm Slal Mohammed Phase 02(DN005-P01)
South Asia (other)
• Kompong Dewa Resort Project
Turkey
• SunExpress Airlines
United Kingdom
• BAE Systems Maritime Services
UAE
• CSCEC Steel Industries LLC
Chief Adjudicator’s Award
WINNER:
• BAE Systems Maritime Services
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