Award Categories
The Categories
In the Safety Awards, there are various categories that entrants may win.
Note: based on your entry, NISO/NISG will decide the appropriate category / award [if successful] for your organisation. You do not elect to choose the award. Your organisation, if successful, will be allocated the highest award appropriate to your submission / organisation.
Supreme Safety Award
(sponsored by Irving Oil Whitegate Refinery)
Gold Award
Silver Award
Bronze Award
President’s Category Awards
• Overall small company award
• Overall medium company award
• Overall large company award
• Overall construction award
• Overall chemical / pharmaceutical award
• Overall Regional / Northern Ireland award
Business Category Awards
• Agricultural Produce
• Consultants (Safety, Management, etc.)
• Education and Training
• Electronic / Electrical Manufacturing / Assembly
• Facilities Management and Services
• Financial / Insurance
• Food/Drink
• Healthcare Providers
• Information Technology and Computer Services
• Local Authorities/Councils
• Mechanical Engineering / Manufacturing / Assembly
• Medical Devices
• Public Service (Government Services, Public Bodies, Semi-State, Emergency Services, Prisons, etc.)
• Retailing/Wholesaling
• Sport / Leisure
• Transport / Distribution / Storage
• Transport and Vehicle Maintenance
• Utilities / Telecoms Providers (Power Generation / Distribution, Telecoms, Water, Gas, etc.)
• Voluntary, Social and Community
• Waste Management
• Other Manufacturing
• Other Services
Chemical / Pharmaceutical Awards
• Speciality Chemicals
• Pharmaceuticals [Fill Finish]
• Pharmaceuticals [Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API)]
• Consumer Products
• BioPharmaceutical
Construction Awards
• Building Services
• Civil Engineering
• Consulting Engineers
• House Building
• Industrial/Commercial
• Insulation and Energy Conservation
• Mineral Extraction/Quarrying/Concrete Products
• Road Surfacing
• Specialist Contractor
• Utility Services
Regional / Northern Ireland Awards
• Northern Ireland
• East [Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow]
• Midlands [Laois, Longford, Offaly, Westmeath]
• Mid West [Clare, Limerick, Tipperary North]
• North East [Cavan, Louth, Meath, Monaghan]
• North West [Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo]
• South East [Carlow, Tipperary South, Waterford, Wexford]
• South [Cork, Kerry]
• West [Galway, Mayo, Roscommon]
Higher Distinction Awards
Distinction Awards
Highly Commended Awards
Commended Awards
Merit Awards
Recognition Awards
New Entry Awards
Not featured in the overall category awards
• Small, less than 50 employees
• Medium, 50–100 employees
• Large, more than 100 employees
Additional awards you may win in addition to the above:
Exceptional High Achiever Awards – Introduced in 2018
These awards are made to organisations who have achieved a Distinction Award or greater over the previous ten years.
This awards are in addition to whatever other award the successful organisation has achieved.
Consistent High Achiever Awards – Introduced in 2012
These awards are made to organisations who have achieved a Distinction Award or greater over the previous five years.
This awards are in addition to whatever other award the successful organisation has achieved.
Occupational Health Award
sponsored by Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and Health & Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI)
Now in its sixth year, this award is designed for companies who demonstrate clear evidence that they manage a clear and proactively structured occupational health programme for their employees. This programme should be based on the hazard identification and risk assessments applicable within the company and may include such items as, Pre-employment medicals, Periodic medicals, Hearing, Vibration, Skin Care, Respiratory issues, General Health issues, EAP, Shift Work, Diet, Hygiene matters, etc.
No separate entry is required but the winner will be selected from all entries who can demonstrate and provide evidence that their occupational health programme is top class. The entrant who scores highest in Section 7 relating to Occupational Health will win the “Occupational Health Award” sponsored by the Health and Safety Authority and the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI). This award will be made in addition to whatever other award the successful organisation has achieved.
Driving for Work Award
The Driving for Work Award, now in its fifth year, as part of the overall Occupational Safety Awards, requires entrants to demonstrate evidence of the following in relation to driving for work: policy, planning, practice, measuring performance and reviewing performance. It also includes Worker Related Vehicle Safety. The entrant who scores highest in Section 12 relating to Worker Related Vehicle including Driving for Work and Workplace Vehicle Safety will win the “Driving for Work Award”. This award will be made in addition to whatever other award the successful organisation has achieved.
Healthy Workplace Award
sponsored by Healthy Ireland
Introduced in 2019, The Healthy Workplace Award recognises the commitment of workplaces who promote health and wellbeing as a core element of the Health and Safety agenda. Promoting Health and Wellbeing in the workplace requires organisations to consult with employees to identify priorities in relation to their health and wellbeing and plan appropriate interventions. Elective programmes are underpinned by strong leadership which facilitates a culture that values and promotes the health of all employees. Workplaces will need to present evidence of communication plans, employee engagement and levels of participation in organised activities. The entrant who scores highest in Section 8 relating to Workplace Health and Wellbeing will win the “Healthy Workplace Award”. This award will be made in addition to whatever other award the successful organisation has achieved.