With a strong emphasis on the importance of keeping workplaces safe and healthy, the Health & Safety Excellence Awards celebrated the outstanding achievements and tireless efforts of those who have gone above and beyond to promote and maintain the highest standards of health and safety in their respective fields. From construction and manufacturing to healthcare and transport, the Health & Safety Excellence Awards 2023 showcased the very best of the industry and provided a unique platform for collaboration, learning, and growth.
Now in their fourth year, the Health & Safety Excellence Awards recognised an impressive range of submissions, all in competition for one of 16 prestigious trophies to be won.
The winners were announced during a live awards ceremony held at The Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry Demesne, Dublin 9, on March 29th, 2023 and hosted by Colm O’Regan.
The Irish Times were communications partner to the Awards and were joined by Gold Sponsors ISS Facility Services Ireland, FlexManager and Skillko. They were also supported by Amárach Research.
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Notable winners on the night included Analog Devices, winners of the Health & Safety Team of the Year Award, and An Post’s Drive Towards Zero programme which won the Grand Prix Health & Safety Excellence Award.
Another winner was Longford County Council, whose cathaoirleach Turlough McGovern said: “Winning this prestigious category is wonderful recognition of the dedication shown by all employees and management to the safety management system in Longford County Council. As cathaoirleach, I’m very proud to say that we are national leaders when it comes to health and safety in the public sector.”
Gary Cunningham, director of customer success for FlexManager said: “FlexManager sponsored these awards to support those who strive for excellence, make their workplaces safer and ensure everyone goes home to their families at the end of the day. The award nominees are the best of the best, the industry leaders, who make the industry stronger, and safer, for all.”
Analog Devices also won an award at this year’s event. George Rickard, EHS manager at Analog Devices said, “Winning this award demonstrates Analog Devices’ commitment to caring for the health, safety and wellbeing of our employees from design to delivery of our innovative semiconductor products. Only through the support of our leaders and dedication of our EHS team makes this possible.”
Joining as a sponsor was Skillko, whose chief executive, Brendan Maloney said: “It was an honour for Skillko to support this year’s Health & Safety Excellence Awards. Skillko is a technology platform designed for health and safety professionals to achieve a compliant and safe workforce so we were delighted to partner with awards that recognise and promote safety throughout the industry.”
Alkermes Pharma Ireland also stepped onto the top step of the podium with Monica Doyle, their senior EHS specialist saying, “Alkermes’ Athlone site received the 2023 award in the life sciences category at Ireland’s 2023 Health & Safety Excellence Awards. This recognition is a testament to our employees’ focus on building a culture of safety and risk management in Athlone”.
Another winner at this year’s Awards was United Hardware. Their HR manager, Maya Gough said: “United Hardware commenced a journey in 2021 to develop processes and structures within our warehouse to support cultural development and leadership within health and safety and we are delighted to be recognised for our hard work and commitment with this award.”
United Drug were finalists at the event and Paul Reilly, managing director said: “For us, this award acknowledges but most importantly gives recognition to our team’s personal commitment, tireless efforts and attention to detail over the past three years. Through this, we helped to save lives, and there is no better achievement!”
Speaking at the awards, Kevin O’Driscoll, director partnership programmes, Business River said, “Events like this are made possible through the support of sponsors. We are thankful to our 2023 sponsors and professional partners, which includes ISS Facility Services Ireland, FlexManager, and Skillko. Their investment in the awards underlines their commitment and support of this key business area.”
The awards were judged by a distinguished panel of experts drawn from all areas of the health and safety sector.
Full list of judges:
1. Rafael Bernardes, quality and continuous improvement manager, Dublin Bus
2. Elaine Bowers, senior EHS executive, Ibec
3. Dr. Conor Buggy, associate Professor in occupational and environmental studies, director of the UCD Centre for Safety and Health at Work
4. Colm Byrne, safety, health and wellbeing manager, RTÉ
5. Liam Carroll, acting chief fire officer, Carlow County Fire & Rescue Service
6. Dr. Marie Coggins, lecturer, exposure science, school of physics, University of Galway
7. Patricia Ennis Gillen, health and safety consultant and trainer, TU Dublin (retired)
8. James Gubbins, global health and safety PMO, Linesight’
9. Jennifer Lee, health and safety manager, ARYZTA
10. Ann Marie McLoughlin, PMO health and safety manager, Dublin Port Company
11. Yvette Moffatt, health and safety manager, RCSI
12. Reddy Morley, head of rail safety and occupational health and safety, Transport Infrastructure Ireland
13. Eddie Ronayne, safety, health and staff wellbeing advisor, Cork County Council
14. Dr. Penpatra Sripaiboonkij, programme coordinator, Higher Diploma in Safety, Health and Wellbeing at Work, UCD
Full list of winners:
Health & Safety Excellence Award - Public Sector
Winner: Longford County Council
Health & Safety Excellence Award - Food & Beverage
Winner: Danone Nutricia Wexford
Health & Safety Excellence Award - Utilities & Services – Sponsored by Skillko
Winner: Lessons Learned from One of Our Own – EPS Group
Health & Safety Excellence Award – Healthcare – Sponsored by ISS Facility Services Ireland
Winner: Internal Health & Safety Audit Programme - Letterkenny University Hospital
Health & Safety Excellence Award – Life Sciences
Winner: Alkermes Pharma Ireland
Health & Safety Excellence Award – Manufacturing
Winner: Suretank
Health & Safety Excellence Award - Manufacturing (Large Organisation)
Winner: Danone Nutricia Wexford
Health & Safety Excellence Award – Financial & Professional Services
Winner: Bank of Ireland
Health & Safety Excellence Award – Warehousing
Winner: United Hardware
Health & Safety Excellence Award – Transport
Winner: Drive towards Zero - An Post
Health & Safety Excellence Award - Facilities Management
Winner: LMC Facilities Management
Health & Safety Excellence Award – Construction
Winner: Psychological Safety in the Aftermath of Tragedy - Surecom
Health & Safety Excellence Award - Construction (Large Organisation) – Sponsored by Skillko
Winner: Suir Engineering
Health & Safety Manager of the Year
Winner: Dorina Alexandrianu - Virginia International Logistics
Health & Safety Team of the Year – Sponsored by FlexManager
Winner: Analog Devices
Health & Safety Excellence Grand Prix
Winner: Drive towards Zero - An Post
