Support services at Forth Valley Royal Hospital, which include portering, security and catering, have been recognised by a leading safety organisation for their approach to good practice and accident prevention. The high standards, which have been achieved through training and ability to learn from previous incidents, have led to a RoSPA Gold Award which will be presented later this year.

The support services are operated through the facilities company Serco, and staff undergo regular training organised by the NHS Forth Valley risk management team. A health and safety committee has been formed in partnership with trade unions and Serco senior management hold regular inspections to gain feedback. They are also informed electronically of any incident and follow-up investigations.

Serco Contract Director for Forth Valley Royal Hospital Mike Mackay said: “We are committed to health and safety training and to providing the best working conditions for our staff.  This has included funding for off-site study. In addition, we are also keen to make improvements wherever possible; for example we have installed an automated linen bin tipper to avoid people having to lift linen bags which were awkward to carry.”

RoSPA Awards Manager David Rawlins added: “The scheme does not just look at accident records but also entrants’ overarching health and safety management systems, including important practices such as strong leadership and workforce involvement. We congratulate Serco and Forth Valley Royal Hospital on their success and encourage them to remain committed to safety and health, an approach well recognised to be good for the workforce.”

The RoSPA Occupational Health and Safety Awards scheme began nearly 50 years ago and is open to businesses and organisations across the UK and overseas.