FCC Environment, a UK-based resource and waste management businesses and a company known for its safety, health, environmental and quality initiatives, has won a further accolade in the prestigious British Safety Council International Safety Awards 2020. 

After receiving a ‘distinction’ award earlier this year, the company’s Wychavon collections contract has now been named overall winner in the local government sector.

FCC Environment is one of just 13 organisations to be awarded overall sector winner in the 2020 International Safety Awards, in recognition of its commitment to keeping its Wychavon collection crew and their working environment as healthy and safe as possible.      

Working on behalf of Wychavon District Council, FCC Environment undertakes domestic and municipal waste collection services and street cleaning operations. Some 70 staff are employed to deliver the services, including a large number of collections operatives such as drivers and loaders working across 25 different vehicles. 

FCC Environment’s Paul Stokes, Head of SHEQ, said: “Many health and safety challenges can present themselves within any local authority contract. Employees frequently face health and safety hazards both in the workplace and out on collections – including having to manually handle a high volume of different materials, operating refuse vehicles, navigating pedestrian traffic and facing adverse weather conditions. 

“In the public domain, control measures can be placed on operatives, but cannot be realistically exercised over the members of the general public. Dealing with these difficulties by managing on-site safety and work-related health matters is of paramount importance.”