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20 November 2002
As a Sword of Honour recipient Countryside Properties is truly a world leader in health and safety.
David Ballard, Director General of the Safety Council
Countryside Properties Plc has recently been awarded the British Safety Council's (BSC) coveted Sword of Honour for 2002. The Sword is the pinnacle of health and safety awards in the UK and recognises and rewards health and safety best practice.
Countryside is one of just 40 companies awarded with a Sword of Honour out of the 200 companies who applied this year. Moreover, the Group is the only developer to have received the award in at least the last two years. The award is presented to those organisations who have achieved the BSC's Five Star Award within the last year. Countryside achieved the five star rating after a nine day Safety Management System audit by the BSC.
Mark Foster, Countryside Properties' Head of Health and Safety comments, "Achieving the Sword of Honour illustrates that Health and Safety within the company is paramount. We are extremely proud to have been presented with this award and will use it as a bench mark to maintain these high standards in the future."
Commenting on Countryside's achievement, David Ballard, Director General of the Safety Council explains, ""By promoting best practice, you have significantly reduced accidents and incidents in your workplaces and increased productivity and profitability. If every business followed your lead, the country could halve the £18 billion cost of poor safety in five years - by cutting injuries, ill health, compensation, fines, closures and court cases. As a Sword of Honour recipient Countryside Properties is truly a world leader in health and safety."
Countryside has resolved to lead by example in changing standards and reducing accident figures throughout the development industry. The Group which already holds OHSAS 18001, recently received the Best Health and Safety Approach award at the 2002 Building Quality Awards.
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Information correct as at 20/11/2002