O.C.O Technology makes it a winning double with twin top honours from RoSPA

Recycling and carbon capture specialist O.C.O Technology has taken top honours by securing a prestigious Gold Award from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) for Health and Safety Excellence.

The accolade, achieved at the first time of entering, means the company is recognised as a world leader in health and safety practice.

In a second triumph, O.C.O has also been named winner of the RoSPA International Dilmun Environmental Award (sponsored by GPIC), for demonstrating excellence in environmental as well as health and safety management.

A thrilled Lee Thompson, O.C.O’s Safety, Health, Environment and Quality (HSEQ) Manager, said: “We are extremely proud and honoured to be the recipient of two such important awards and the win is all the more special because it was the first time we had entered.

“There were three key components to our winning gold entry – making sure we had robust management systems and the right culture in place to achieve excellence in health and safety; having the commitment from the directors to make any necessary changes; and the buy-in from all our employees – which has been tremendous.

“The support everyone within the business has shown for health and safety has been excellent and that has now been recognised by the RoSPA judges.”

Since joining the company three years ago Lee, together with Health & Safety Assistant Christine Oddy, has driven forward a number of changes, including overseeing the transition from OHSAS 18001 to the new internationally-recognised occupational health and safety ISO 450001 standard.

For the environmental award, the team had to demonstrate ways in which the business manages its environmental risks; including how it mitigates its own carbon footprint and helps other organisations to achieve carbon savings by diverting Air Pollution Control residue (APCr) waste from landfill and recycling it to create the world’s first carbon negative aggregate.

In addition, practical measures at O.C.O’s three operations in Leeds, Avonmouth and at Brandon in Suffolk, have included introducing electric cars to the fleet and appointing energy champions to each location.

Julia Small, RoSPA’s Achievements Director, said: “This is a fantastic and well-deserved accomplishment. All our award entrants demonstrate their unwavering commitment and passion for keeping people safe at work. By receiving this recognition O.C.O Technology join like-minded businesses and organisations worldwide, who represent the very best in their approach to Health and Safety.

“I would like to add my personal thanks for all the work that it has taken to secure this well-deserved award – congratulations to all those involved, who champion and drive up Health and Safety standards every day. You are a fantastic example to others in your sector.”

Every year, nearly 2,000 entrants vie to achieve the highest possible accolade in what is the UK’s longest-running H&S industry awards.

The awards will be presented at a gala dinner and awards ceremony in London on 17 May.