The ROSPA Award Panel's selection of the 2012 Sir George Earle Trophy winner was a tough decision as the three contenders, Finning UK Ltd, Morrison Utility Services and Northern Rail all presented robust evidence of outstanding performance.
After careful consideration, Finning were selected because of their open and positive culture of care, that is clearly driven from the top by their directors and senior managers and is energised by the involvement of workers in innovation and continuous improvement, and supported by close attention to assurance of competence through comprehensive training and mentoring.
Features which impressed the panel included: the involvement of Finning's teams in a mutually supportive approach to behavioural safety, the extent of employees' engagement through their workplace production system in making suggestions to improve safety, and support for many engineering staff who often work in relative isolation at clients' sites.
The panel was impressed by Finning's efforts to both safeguard and promote health, to ensure work related road safety and also to encourage employees to take key safety messages home to help protect themselves and their families outside working hours.