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10 May 2002
Countryside Properties Plc has been awarded the highly prestigious Five Star Award by the British Safety Council (BSC). The Award builds on the success of the Group's accreditation to the BSC OHSAS 18001 last year.
The Five Star award is as a result of nine days of auditing during March 2002 by the BSC incorporating not only the Group's regional offices, but also selected construction sites. This audit encompasses Safety Management Systems, and identifies potential areas of risk and loss.
In achieving this award, Countryside Properties has shown its commitment to raising Health and Safety standards in the workplace. More construction companies should follow its lead
David Ballard, Director General of the British Safety Council.
In achieving an impressive 94.6% pass rate, Countryside has illustrated that Health & Safety within the company is paramount. This score represents an average achieved over six different categories of Management Systems, including Safety Organisation and Workplace Implementation.
This level of award is not common in the housebuilding and property development industry - during the last three years 63 companies have undertaken to attain Five Star status. Only 11 companies have been successful.
Mark Foster, Countryside Properties' Head of Health and Safety, "Being accredited to the Five Star BSC Award is proof that Health and Safety is a core value at Countryside Properties and that we conduct our activities with the highest regard for everyone's health, safety and welfare."
Director General of the British Safety Council, David Ballard, commented, "In achieving this award, Countryside Properties has shown its commitment to raising Health and Safety standards in the workplace. More construction companies should follow its lead in order to reduce the unacceptably high accident rate in the industry."
Countryside responded to the gauntlet thrown down by John Prescott in the Revitalising Health & Safety seminar held last year, by securing both the OHSAS 18001 and the Five Star Award only 18 months after achieving the Three Star award. Since the seminar, the construction industry as a whole has reacted and fatalities have fallen by a significant 32% (against the Government's target of a 10% year on year fall).
The pinnacle of the British Safety Council awards is the Sword of Honour which is awarded to only a maximum forty companies in the world per annum (who must already be in possession of the Five Star Award). Countryside Properties has therefore made the Sword their next target.
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Information correct as at 10/05/2002