RS Components, the trading brand of Electrocomponents plc (LSE:ECM), the world’s leading high service distributor of electronics and maintenance products, has been awarded two prestigious accolades for its achievements in occupational health and safety. The company has won the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) Gold Award for Occupational Health and Safety together with a distinction in the British Safety Council’s International Safety Awards 2014, acknowledging its commitment to raising health and safety standards across the business.
Having received a RoSPA silver award in 2013, the gold award recognises the continuing improvement RS has made in its health and safety record. The highlight of the past year has been a 23% improvement in its lost time accident rate, together with a reduction in the number of lost workdays from 430 to 66, a significant reduction in the number of accidents, and a 39% improvement in the number of near misses. Other key achievements include improved communication, increased hazard reporting, and greater active monitoring and investigation of health and safety issues.
The International Safety Awards reviewed a number of criteria in which RS demonstrated excellence. These included a robust risk assessment process, access to health and safety training and assistance for management, regular efforts by senior management to actively promote a positive attitude towards health, safety and welfare, good communication, a broad range of health, safety and welfare initiatives, and a clear set of measurable and achievable objectives. Each of these has contributed to RS successfully embedding a health and safety culture into its workforce.
Dave Mason, Global Head of Health and Safety, Electrocomponents, said: “We’re delighted to have our continuing efforts to improve health and safety across the business recognised by such renowned industry awards. We have completely transformed our health and safety operations and have successfully created the belief that health and safety is an integral part of the workplace. We firmly believe that this is vital to both continued economic success and a sustainable future.”