Monday 14 September 2020
Selby College has been awarded the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) President’s Award for its outstanding health and safety performance.
RoSPA’s esteemed President Accolade is presented to organisations who have received 10 Consecutive Gold Awards, highlighting Selby College’s commitment to ensuring a safe learning and working environment year on year.
The award scheme recognises the College’s overall health and safety performance, policies and procedures, including its health and safety management systems and leadership and workforce involvement.
“I’m extremely proud to say that we have won our tenth consecutive RoSPA Gold Award, which has resulted in the College being awarded RoSPA’s well-regarded President Accolade,” said Ken Sharp, Health and Safety Advisor at Selby College. “Over the past 10 years, we have always gone the extra mile to ensure that we are continuously evolving our health and safety practices to keep our students and staff safe. This has truly been a team effort and I would like to thank everyone involved who has helped in reaching this significant milestone.”
This comes as the College is preparing its campus for a full reopening to all students and staff from Wednesday the 16th of September. As part of this, the College has carried out a detailed assessment of the risks posed by Covid-19 and many steps have been taken to ensure students and staff are able to work safely.
This includes the implementation of safety precautions across the campus, such as social distancing measures and increased handwashing and sanitising facilities. The College has also introduced ‘Ten Top Safety Actions’ for all students and staff to follow to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.
The College has also made the decision to make face coverings mandatory in communal areas across the College, such as corridors, stairs, toilets and other indoor communal areas on campus.
“The award comes at a pivotal time, as the College prepares to fully reopen its doors to existing and new students this week. At Selby College, we have an excellent track record when it comes to health and safety and being awarded the RoSPA’s President Award echoes this,” said Phil Sayles, Principal and CEO of Selby College. “None of this would have been possible if it wasn’t for Ken and the support and cooperation of everyone here at the College and I have every confidence that together, we will create a safe environment for all of our students and staff.”
The RoSPA Awards are one most prestigious and recognised schemes in the world, with almost 2000 entries every year and a reach of over seven million employees.
The Awards are judged by a panel of experienced health and safety professionals as well as representatives from the Health and Safety Executive, Engineering Employers’ Federation, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, Society of Occupational Health Nurses, National Examination Board in Occupational Safety & Health, Local Government Employers, Electrical Contractors’ Association and the Trades Union Congress.
Since starting at the College in 2003, Ken has played a leading role in shaping and implementing the College’s health and safety strategy which has helped the College to secure the RoSPA President’s Award. After 17 years as the acting Health and Safety advisor at Selby College, Ken has chosen to retire as of October 2020.
