The awards are open to businesses and organisations of all sizes, types and sectors – both members of the British Safety Council and non-members, in the UK and internationally. Last year, 443 organisations from a wide range of industries, countries and continents won an International Safety Award.

Launching the awards, Mike Robinson, the British Safety Council’s chief executive, said: “The British Safety Council’s vision is that no one should be injured or made ill at work – anywhere in the world – and the International Safety Awards celebrate organisations that are taking effective steps to protect the health, safety and welfare of their workers and others who could be harmed by their activities.

“Winning an International Safety Award enables an organisation to demonstrate to its workforce that it takes their health, safety and welfare seriously.

“It can also enhance an organisation’s reputation among customers, business partners and the wider public, and inspire other businesses to make the same commitment and give workers’ health and safety the priority it rightly deserves.”

The awards relate to health and safety management at a specific site or business unit. Applicants answer a series of online questions about their management of health and safety, which are assessed by a team of independent adjudicators. If the application meets the required standard, a pass, merit or – for really exceptional submissions – a distinction, is awarded.

Selected high scoring organisations will again be shortlisted for additional sector awards recognising outstanding sites and business units within a number of business sector categories.

The closing date for applications is Monday 6 February 2017 and the results will be announced on Friday 10 March 2017.