Top Award For Police Department

West Mercia Police's Health and Safety team have scooped a top award at a national event.

The team won the award for the Best Achievement in Health Care and The Public Sector at the London ceremony at the Hilton Hotel Park Lane on 18 October. 

The prestigious awards are handed out by the Institute of Safety and Health (IOSH) and sponsored by trade publication Safety & Health Practitioner. Clive Griffiths receiving the award

Clive Griffiths is the force's Health and Safety Manager and he attended the event earlier this month.  

Clive said: "We decided to draw up a plan to combine ‘cop' pragmatism with national guidelines to improve safety culture and make sure health and safety is applied practically in operational policing.

"Key to the success of the plan was the two day ‘Protect the Protectors' training course developed by me and an external consultancy. The course covers safety law, management systems, risk assessment and accident investigation with police specific examples and exercises. It was delivered to senior management teams so they could champion safety in their departments.

"Positive outcomes included a reduction of 16 per cent in the number of days lost, increased accident or near-miss reporting and a marked change in safety culture and compliance".

Award judges remarked that the project has been well managed and provides a sound foundation for the three year programme of improving safety management and establishing a strong safety culture.     

Issued: Friday 26 October 2012