THE countdown has begun for businesses and organisations in Herefordshire and Worcestershire to enter the RoSPA Occupational Health and Safety Awards.

Organisations of all sizes and types should start preparing their submissions now to be sure to meet the February deadline for the 2008 Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents celebration of best practice in health and safety.

Tom Mullarkey, RoSPA chief executive, said: "Our winners represent the high performers in health and safety throughout the UK and the world. They lead the way in saving lives and reducing injuries and ill-health in the workplace.

"How well an organisation manages health and safety speaks volumes about its values and professionalism."

The majority of the awards are non-competitive and mark achievement, which is graded at merit, bronze, silver and gold.

Those demonstrating continued improvement can win gold medals, president's awards and orders of distinction. The competitive awards go to the best entries in 21 individual industry sectors, including construction, healthcare, transport and logistics, engineering, manufacturing and education.

There are special awards for workforce involvement, training, occupational health, environmental management and the management of occupational road risk.

RoSPA's top accolade is the Sir George Earle Trophy. The awards, which honoured 1,400 winners in 2007, are sponsored by the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH).

The presentations will take place from Tuesday, May 13, to Thursday, May 15, at the Birmingham Hilton Metropole Hotel where there will be three prestigious gala dinners.

They run alongside three days of RoSPA conferences and Safety and Health Expo 2008 at the NEC.

Entries are welcomed from all types of business or organisation, whether public or private sector, and there are many new entrants each year. Judges not only consider accident records, they also look for high standards of management and safety performance.

The closing date is Friday, February 15.

Full details can be found at www.rospa.com/awards, or more information is available by ringing 0121 248 2090 or e-mailing awards @rospa.com