There was plenty to cheer about for Northern Ireland-based paving and building products manufacturer AG after they secured a hat-trick of honours at the 2024 MPA Health and Safety Awards.

The awards ceremony highlights exceptional practices, initiatives and leadership in health and safety, aiming to share vital insights and celebrate efforts that elevate safety standards across the industry.

AG was honoured with the Sir Frank Davies Trophy, the Fatal 6 Award and the Safer Through Improvements in Health & Wellbeing Award, while also making the shortlist for Safer Production.

The manufacturer received the Sir Frank Davies Trophy, which is the top award for SMEs, in recognition of its exceptional performance in health, safety, and wellbeing.

This achievement reflects the impact of the company's ongoing #GoHomeSafe campaign, which was also commended earlier this year with a Higher Distinction at the Annual All Ireland Occupational Health and Safety Awards.

The MPA Health and Safety judging panel praised AG's 'making safety personal' approach, highlighting how the company's communication fosters a culture where safety is embraced as a shared responsibility among all employees.

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The Fatal 6 Award was received by AG for its innovative Lock-Tag-Live initiative, an enhancement of the company's Lock Out Tag Out (LOTO) procedure aimed at reinforcing the message that safety is personal.

This initiative was selected as the top entry out of 142 submissions, surpassing entries from global companies, for its strong potential to eliminate hazards associated with the Fatal 6 and significantly reduce on-site fatalities and serious injuries if adopted industry wide.

AG was also honoured with the Safer Through Improvements in Health & Wellbeing Award for its accredited health and wellbeing programme, Activ8. The judges praised the company for its dedication to embedding the comprehensive programme into its culture.

Launched in 2018, Activ8 is an accredited programme focused on promoting and improving physical and mental wellbeing across the company and beyond. The award-winning initiative also earned recognition at the Business in the Community (BITC) Responsible Business Awards earlier this year, receiving the Wellbeing at Work accolade for its ability to engage, empower and educate employees.

Finally, AG’s Lock-Tag-Live initiative was shortlisted for Safer Production at the awards and was named a finalist for the Health, Safety, and Wellbeing Initiative of the Year at the 2024 British Construction Industry Awards.

A representative from the judging panel said: "I am particularly impressed with this initiative, from the lockout tags with photographs of individuals, to the good catch process, regular measurement of improvements, training, and reboot days.

"It is truly a holistic system that will go a long way in improving health and safety within the company."

Reflecting on the company's success, Stephen Acheson, CEO of AG, said: "These awards are a reflection of the dedication and passion of our teams, who work tirelessly to create a safe environment for everyone. We are committed to continuously improving our processes, sharing knowledge, and leading by example to ensure that safety standards are elevated across the entire industry.