Health and Safety Award for Clare Local Authorities

WHEN it comes to in-house health and safety performance, Clare Local Authorities lead the way.
This week, at a ceremony in Galway, Clare Local Authorities was named overall winner of the Local Authority Award in the 22nd annual national safety awards scheme.
Organised by the National Irish Safety Organisation (NISO) and Northern Ireland Safety Group (NISG), the scheme recognises organisations which demonstrate a consistently good or continuously improving health and safety performance and an outstanding contribution to occupational safety, health and welfare during the previous year.
Mayor of Clare, Councillor Joe Arkins lauded the success.
“The fact that Clare Local Authorities were deemed the overall winner out all local authority areas on the island of Ireland is a recognition of the strong leadership and commitment demonstrated by management, influencing of stakeholders and particularly the engagement of staff at all levels of the organisation to continuously improve health and safety performance and comply with the law as a minimum standard of performance,” he said.
Clare County Manager Tom Coughlan acknowledged the staff of Clare Local Authorities for their engagement in the programme which has been delivered in recent years to achieve a very high level of health and safety management.
“Being the largest employer in the county, it is critically important that Clare Local Authorities implement a programme to protect the health and well-being of staff, who are our greatest asset,” he added.
Senior Executive Health & Safety Officer, Clare Local Authorities Ger Hartnett, commented: “The awards are recognised as Ireland’s foremost awards scheme among health and safety professionals throughout the island of Ireland. Therefore, it is a huge honour for Clare Local Authorities to receive national recognition for their Occupational Health & Safety Management System.”
“The award success is based on a submission made on the Health & Safety Performance of Clare Local Authorities in 2012 and demonstrates the positive and proactive safety culture that exists in the local authority,” he added.