Construction firms scooped more than 700 honours in this year's Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) Occupational Health and Safety Awards, cementing the industry's place as the most successful sector in the scheme's history.

Balfour Beatty Construction Scottish & Southern Ltd, based in Edinburgh, won the Construction (Commercial) Sector, with Haden Young Ltd, of Watford, highly commended and Giffen Group Plc, of St Albans, commended.

The Engineering Construction Sector was won by Studsvik UK Ltd, of Gateshead, with Birse Rail, of Birmingham, highly commended. Commendations in this sector went to BAM Nuttall Ltd, of Camberley, and Doosan Babcock Energy Limited, of Renfrew.

Lovell Partnerships Ltd - London Region, based in Barnet, won the House Building and Property Development Sector, with Bovis Homes Limited, of Longfield, Kent, highly commended, and Frank Haslam Milan – West Midlands, of Coleshill, commended.

In the International Dilmun Environmental Award category, Doncaster-based Skanska Utilities North was highly commended and Costain Limited, of Maidenhead, was commended.

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Tiong Seng Contractors (Pte) Ltd of Singapore was highly commended in the International Sector.

Colas Limited, of Crawley, was highly commended in the Managing Occupational Road Risk category, and Black & Veatch Ltd, of Redhill, was highly commended in the Training category.

In addition to the competitive sector and specialist awards, the construction industry won a total of 25 Orders of Distinction, 41 President’s Awards, 150 gold medals, and 382 gold, 96 silver and 12 bronze awards. There were also eight additional awards for managing occupational road risk.

Overall, it was another record-breaking year in RoSPA's awards scheme, with more than 1,650 businesses and organisations recognised for their commitment to protecting the health and well-being of their employees and others.

Tom Mullarkey, RoSPA chief executive, said: "The way organisations manage health and safety speaks volumes about their overall values and professionalism, and the winners of RoSPA awards are to be congratulated for their commitment to improvement in this sphere.

"Those who have gained recognition for their achievements, particularly during tough economic conditions, raise the bar for other organisations to follow, inspiring them to do likewise. Through the public example they have set, the reservoir of safety knowledge and good practice is increased, and this should serve to save lives and reduce injuries and ill health in workplaces across the UK and beyond."

The awards, now in their 53rd year, were sponsored by the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH).

Award ceremonies were held over three days (May 12-14) at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel, at the National Exhibition Centre, with major awards presented at gala evening dinners attended by 3,000 people.

(GK/JM)