ISA Winners Banquet - Celebrating Safety

Elite members of the British Safety Council are recognised every year at the prestigious International Safety Awards banquet. This year, the 49th time the Awards have been held, the occasion was as splendid as ever, with top class entertainment and cuisine.

The British Safety Council presented its International Safety Awards with a licence to thrill at Mayfair's Grosvenor House Hotel in May 2007.

The theme of the showcase event was classic films ? especially James Bond ? and thus everyone was suitably attired in black tie and evening dress.

And keynote speaker Lawrence Waterman, head of health and safety at the Olympic Delivery Authority, wowed the audience with a barnstorming speech.

He took on the tabloid attackers of health and safety before paying tribute to the work of everybody in the room.

"Everyday you make sure people return from work as healthy and as safe as when they arrived," he said. "That's not news ? but it is worth celebrating."

He also insisted that ensuring the highest standards of health and safety during the construction of the 2012 Games was as important as sporting excellence at the event itself.

"It would be a nonsense if the construction of theatres which are meant to celebrate human physicality, is not managed and planned in a way that safeguards the health and safety of those working on it."

Lawrence went on to praise the BSC's role in the Olympic effort, which has seen the Council offer to fund 200,000 BSC Awards Level 1 examinations to employees working on the Games' infrastructure.

He said: "We are only going to achieve that excellence in health and safety in partnership with organisations like the BSC. The UK is a world leader in health and safety, and that is because of organisations like the BSC."

Earlier in the evening, BSC acting Chief Executive Jonathan Bramsdon had greeted guests, reserving a special welcome for those who had travelled from across the globe. The cosmopolitan guest list reflected the BSC's worldwide presence, with attendees coming from as far as India, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

Jonathan also made a special tribute to British Salt, the BSC's longest-serving member which has been with the organisation since 1957 when the BSC was first founded. The company was at the banquet to pick up an ISA but also to join in the BSC's fiftieth anniversary celebrations.

Jonathan reminded guest of the 50 year milestone in the BSC's history and then moved on to the present and the future. He highlighted the BSC Awards programme to roll out Entry Level Certificates to youngsters at secondary schools. (The scheme is the result of a collaboration with IOSH and the HSE, aiming to reduce accidents involving young workers.)

And he also echoed Lawrence's determination to help build a safe 2012 Games, underlining the importance of the BSC Awards' Level 1 offer for Olympic construction workers ? a £2 million commitment.

"The offer allows not only for employees involved with the Games to hold a nationally-recognised health and safety qualification but also provides a legacy to workers that have a transferable qualification and clear signposting for progression in subsequent roles," he said.

The evening was rounded off with a sparkling array of entertainment.

Comedian Patrick Tansey hit the funny bone and 60s tribute band The Overtures had guests boogying until the early hours. A wide-ranging and thrilling cabaret followed. Electric string quartet String Fever delighted the audience with their 'history of music in five minutes'. Meanwhile, the Sophistication Dancers charmed and acrobatic troupe Revolutions turned heads with amazing feats of strength and agility. All in all, it was a night to remember.

Promoting safety. Saving lives.

A noble past

The National Safety Awards were set up by the British Safety Council in 1958. In 2004, the scheme was renamed the International Safety Awards to accommodate the high demand for worldwide safety. Only companies which achieve accident rates better than the industry average can apply and the application criteria have become increasingly stringent over recent years.

An inspiring present

Winners of the award have shown commitment to health and safety from the boardroom to the shop floor. The accolade is recognition of hard work and commitment which increases morale among employers and employees.

An exciting future

Companies that annually apply for the award can build up their record of consecutive years. Many winning organisations boast an impressive tally developed over decades. The scheme is getting bigger and better every year, with a wide variety of applicants including hospitals, power stations and oil refineries. More and more employers are realising the value of an International Safety Award.