OH’s finest got the recognition they deserved as the winners of the first Occupational Health Awards were finally announced. The ceremony took place at the Riverbank Plaza Hotel in London on 4 December.
Overall winner and Capita Health Solutions Award for Absence Management
Winner: Engineering Employers Federation (EEF)
Judge: Anne Harriss, reader in educational development, London South Bank University
The attendance management tool developed by the EEF provides a manager with a number of checklists and model policies. In short, it is an excellent resource to assist in managing attendance.
The judges said of the EEF’s absence toolkit that it was great to see such an unusual blend of expertise in the team responsible, and that the group put together a pragmatic and useful guide for employers, which needs no further work from the customer and is useable by any size of organisation.
The overall winner was selected by a separate panel of judges: Cynthia Atwell, chair of the RCN Society of Occupational Health Nursing Brian Kazer, chief executive of the British Occupational Health Research Foundation Dr Ian Lawson, chief medical officer of Rolls Royce and Ben Willmott, employee relations adviser, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
XpertHR Award for Vocational Rehabilitation
Winner: Tate & Lyle
Judge: Judith Howard-Rees, director, Gipping Occupational Health, OH specialist
This entry was well-written and emphasised the principle of prevention and education. Highlighting the benefits of a well-managed vocational rehabilitation programme, it has gone a step further to demonstrate the reduction of the need to use this resource because of early OH intervention within a well-informed workforce.
Specsavers Opticians Award Recognising Achievement in OH
Winner: Building Health
Judge: Greta Thornbory, consultant, occupational health, and consulting editor, Occupational Health
Nicola Elvey has used her knowledge, skills and experience, despite personal problems, to offer an OH service to a group of workers who previously had no, or very limited, access to OH. She has built a team that offers this service throughout the UK and has shown innovation, leadership and teamwork, and made a substantial impact on the health of this industry.
Atos Healthcare Award for Best OH Intervention
Winner: David Brown Engineering
Judge: Judy Cook, general manager health service delivery, British Airways
A significantly impressive and clear submission. Although this project could be considered fundamental to occupational health, the intervention was new to this company and benefited both employee and the organisation. The action plan was varied and showed a good team approach.
National Britannia Award for Health Promotion and Wellbeing
Winner: Welsh Assembly Government
Judge: Lisa Fowlie, safety adviser, University of Wales president, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health
An enthusiastic entry that outlines a programme designed to meet and exceed national standards with an impressive range of initiatives. It clearly demonstrates leadership, engagement and delivery to an internal and a wider audience. It uses the resources available to the best means, and delivers targeted solutions with measurable statistical results.
Kays Medical Award for Innovation in OH
Winner: Hampshire Constabulary
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Judge: Christina Butterworth, chair of the RCN Occupational Health Managers Forum, OH manager, BG Group
The innovation demonstrated one of the core benefits of good OH by introducing a risk-based rehabilitation programme that did not rely on previously accepted generic risk criteria. Working with key stakeholders, they were able to demonstrate how a change in perspective would provide benefits to the organisation and the employee in terms of meaningful work and productivity.
