Fifth safety award for company

Electronic and mechanical calculating equipment manufacturer Trumeter has been presented with a National Safety Award by the British Safety Council.

This is the fifth year in a row the Milltown Street-based firm has won the accolade.

Trumeter health and safety officer Mrs Margaret Frain was among the 1,000 guests from all over the UK who attended the glittering awards ceremony at London's plush Grosvenor House Hotel.

Award winners from public and private sector organisations faced a gruelling test to satisfy the awards panel.

Winners must have lower than average accident rates, sound safety policies and plans and a board level commitment to health and safety.

Trumeter, which has a 90-strong staff, is heavily committed to health and safety training which include risk assessments and in-house training using outside bodies.

Mrs Frain said: "Up and coming, we've got manual handling training, fire training and one for ear protection and one of our gentlemen is going on an electricity at work regulation course."

She joined the company 35 years ago and was originally a union safety representative.

"I progressed and subsequently took and passed my National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety exams in June 1997."

Two years prior to that, Mrs Frain had been appointed Trumeter's first dedicated health and safety officer.

She is also a member of the Institute of Risk and Safety Management and an associate member.

Mrs Frain has to sift through a minefield of legislation to ensure that health and safety remains a top priority with Trumeter.

Commenting on the latest award, she added: "This is the fifth successive year we've received the National Safety Award. I'm very proud."

David Ballard, director general of the British Safety Council, said: "The National Safety Awards highlight organisations that reach the top levels of health and safety. They are a mark of a proven and significant achievement in safety standards."