| Safer Workplace, Better Business Awards Further to below Press Release on 27 October 2009 Breckland Council Health & Safety team went on to win the HSE/LACORs Working Together East Region Partnership Award 2009 in recognition of their 'Safer Workplaces, Better Business Project'. It is hoped to carry out the programme again in 2010 and premises will be invited to attend. Press Release -27 October 2009 Evidence shows that there are strong links between employment, individual health and successful companies. Creating workplaces that protect and promote the safety, health and well-being of employees is a proven way to ensure that your business has its own healthy route to success. That’s why the Norfolk Better Regulation Partnership (NBRP) developed the Safer Workplace, Better Business Award Scheme. Four local authorities across Norfolk have participated in the project to help make health and safety management easy for small businesses that employ up to 15 people. Over 50 businesses took the opportunity to have free independent health and safety management training aimed at helping them comply with the law and become safer places to work. Free advisory and evaluation visits followed the training events and, as a conclusion to work undertaken during European Week for Safety and Health at Work, the businesses who achieved a high standard in managing health and safety in their workplaces were presented with an award. The successful businesses are: •Robinson Young Ltd – non food broker, with a warehouse in Thetford. •Elephant & Castle – Childcare Centre in Sporle •Dodd’s Road Stores – general store & post office in Attleborough •Lydney House – guest house and day conference centre in Swaffham •Saham Toney Pre-School 
Cllr Diana Irving, Executive Support Member for Economic, Health and Housing said; “The award acknowledges those businesses that have demonstrated a desire to excel and those that strive to improve their performance to such an extent that our inspectors are extremely confident in their management systems. The feedback we have received across Norfolk, at each of the 4 participating local authorities, has encouraged us to continue to offer Safer Workplace Better Business to more workplaces in 2010.” Andy Addison, Warehouse Manager for Robinson Young said he had found the whole experience very rewarding. “Participation in this project has given us all a greater understanding of both the collective and individual responsibilities we have in ensuring that safety in the workplace is integrated into the everyday practices of our business” Two of the successful business, Elephant and Castle Childcare Centre and Saham Toney Pre-School were delighted to receive their deserved accolade. “The seminar highlighted weaknesses in our induction program, this effused us to reflect and evolve. We now have stronger induction which is both effective and professional.” commented Lisa Clarke, Manager of Elephant and Castle Childcare Centre. Clare Mortimer, Chairperson Saham Toney Pre-School added; “We found the seminar, coaching and evaluation to be the perfect way to fine tune our business and to ensure that we continue to operate a safe, secure & healthy Pre-School. The feedback from the counselling and evaluation sessions highlighted areas we could improve upon and at the same time management structures that were robust and didn’t need changing. The project was very useful for us as employers and also for our staff in their day to day work.” Steve Eagling and Michelle Newman from Dodd’s Road Stores in Attleborough said they felt the presentation and training workshops were refreshing and delivered in a jovial, helpful manner. Steve said; “I used to feel that before no matter what we did there was always something else to do. The visits by the Breckland Officers felt more two way, we were actually working together.” David Impey, owner and manager of Lyndey guest house also agreed saying; “there were no obstacles to overcome, the whole project has been very refreshing!” Leigh Chant, from the Food and Health & Safety team at Breckland Council said; “I think that the Safer Workplace Better Business project has been a breath of fresh air and has enabled those participating businesses to really understand what is important about health and safety. It’s not about avoiding doing something because of ‘Elf & Safety’, but much more about planning properly to manage risks at work better. These businesses have embraced good management practices at their places of work and I congratulate them by way of recommending them for this Award”. The presentation of the Safer Workplace, Better Business awards coincided with European Week for Safety and Health at Work (19-25 October). Environmental Health Fees - please see relative area below for direct details or link to page. Below is a list of services offered by The Environmental Health Department. Clicking on the links will take you to more information about the subject. You may also call the telephone numbers in the headers. |
