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The entry process is now open for the RoSPA Occupational Health and Safety Awards 2012.

Dating back to 1956, RoSPA’s awards scheme - the largest and longest-running occupational safety awards programme in the UK - recognises organisations’ commitment to accident and ill health prevention. It is open to businesses and organisations of all types and sizes from across the UK and overseas.

The RoSPA Awards, which are sponsored by NEBOSH (the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health), look at entrants’ overarching health and safety management systems, recognising important practices such as strong leadership and workforce involvement.

The majority of awards are non-competitive and are presented at a range of achievement levels. Competitive awards are presented in more than 20 sectors and specialist awards recognise excellence in specific areas. For 2012, the specialist trophy sponsors are once again: Westinghouse Springfields Fuels Ltd (Workforce Involvement in Safety and Health Trophy); Allianz Insurance plc (Managing Occupational Road Risk Trophy); Gulf Petrochemicals Industry Company of Bahrain (International Dilmun Environmental Award); and BHSF (SME Assistance Trophy).

All entrants must register for the awards at www.rospa.com/awards/ by December 1, 2011. There is an early registration discount of £55 for organisations that register by November 4, 2011. After registering, entrants will receive a RoSPA Awards USB key loaded with the required electronic forms, entry structure and simple guidelines with links to further online help. Organisations entering one or more of the specialist award categories will receive additional USB keys on which to compile their submissions.

David Rawlins, RoSPA’s awards manager, said: “The RoSPA Occupational Health and Safety Awards seem to break records every year. In 2011, 1,770 organisations received certificates or trophies - more than ever before. Not only do our awards provide well-deserved recognition for the winners, enabling them to differentiate themselves from competitors when tendering for new or repeat business, but they also encourage other organisations to raise their standards of accident and ill health prevention.”

The closing date for entrants to return their RoSPA Awards USB keys containing the required entry information is February 1, 2012. Awards ceremonies will take place alongside Safety and Health Expo in Birmingham from May 15-17, 2012 and also in Glasgow on September 20, 2012. For more information, visit www.rospa.com/awards/, call 0121 248 2090 or email awards@rospa.com.

The RoSPA Awards scheme has been announced as a finalist in two categories at the UK Event Awards 2011. The winners will be revealed at a ceremony at Wembley Stadium on November 30.