Barhale Construction, which has its head office in Walsall, has been given an internationally celebrated health and safety accolade at an inspiring ceremony at the Vintners' Hall in the City of London. The leading civil engineering contractor won the coveted Five Star Health and Safety Audit Award following a rigorous inspection. Winning the award helps organisations fight the staggering annual £31.8bn burden of work related accidents and ill health.

The audit can help organisations reduce accidents and improve productivity by identifying their health and safety strengths and weaknesses.

Following a comprehensive safety evaluation from world class auditors, organisations are given star ratings - from one to five - to indicate the effectiveness of their health and safety programmes. Action plans are provided which aim to help companies reduce their insurance premiums and increase repeat business from customers.

Peter Dobson, director of health, safety and environment at Barhale, said: “Safety is one of the Three Pillars upon which Barhale bases its whole philosophy.

“We agreed last year to set a high-level company target for both Health & Safety and Environment Management that would be recognised by our clients and competitors as a real measure of competence. This was to achieve a British Safety Council 5 star rating by the end of 2011.

“To have achieved a 5 star rating for health & safety at the first attempt is very rare and this is an excellent outcome for Barhale.”

Top names in the health and safety industry attended the presentation on (Thursday 22nd October 2009) to see Barhale receive the award at the Vintners' Hall in the City of London.

Charles Watchman, a Trustee of British Safety Council, said: “To all the award winners here today, both individuals and organisations, we offer our heartiest congratulations. You should all take great pride in your achievements – achievements based on skill, hard work, good management and commitment. You have shown the enthusiasm, the ability, the talent and the persistence to succeed. “