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What are the International Safety Awards?

The International Safety Awards recognise an organisation’s commitment to excellent standards of health, safety and wellbeing management at a specific site or business unit. In 2024, a total of 1251 applications were received for the International Safety Awards; with 90% of applicants successfully achieving a Distinction, Merit or Pass grade. 

Why should I apply?

It takes commitment, hard work and dedication to improve the health, safety and wellbeing culture within an organisation. The International Safety Awards are recognised globally and give you the recognition you deserve, they can also help you to: 

  • Motivate your team 
  • Prove your success both within your organisation and to others in the industry 
  • Benchmark yourself against other leaders in the field 
  • Win new clients, partners and business opportunities 
  • Showcase your commitment to excellent health, safety and wellbeing standards. 

Eligibility and Terms and Conditions

For the 2025 International Safety Awards scheme we are introducing new eligibility criteria click here for the full description and new terms and conditions.

How to apply?

The International Safety Awards application can be purchased, by paying via credit card or invoice. 

£437 + VAT for members

£616 + VAT for non-members

Apply here.

VAT (Value Added Tax) at the standard rate of 20% is not applicable for overseas applications.   

If your site/business unit is a member of the British Safety Council, please ensure that the named point of contact for your membership purchases the International Safety Award application online to ensure you receive your member discount.   

Award categories

International Safety Award

Recognises commitment to exemplary health, safety and wellbeing management. Award submissions are site specific. Successful applicants will be awarded Distinction, Merit or Pass grades based on their final score. There is no quota of grades to be awarded. All applicants are invited to celebrate their success at the International Safety Awards Dinners 2025. 

Auto-entry awards

Sector Awards

Recognise overall 'best in class' submissions to the International Safety Awards, by industry sector. This is a great way to stand out amongst peers and encourages best practice. 

Sector Award categories are:  

  • Art and culture – museums, galleries
  • Construction
  • Consultancy and advisory
  • Defence
  • Education
  • Financial
  • Gas
  • Health and social care
  • Hospitality and catering
  • IT
  • Leisure and sports clubs
  • Local government
  • Manufacturing
  • Media
  • Mining and quarrying
  • Not for profit
  • Oil
  • Onshore major hazard
  • Other Property Activities
  • Power and utilities
  • Public services
  • Retail
  • Scientific and technical services
  • Storage
  • Transportation
  • Wholesale and distribution.

Best in Country Award

All International Safety Award applicants are entered into this award, provided there is a significant number of applications from the same country. The highest scoring and best overall application will be awarded.

Best in Company Award

This award is for organisations with 50 or more participating sites and recognises the site(s) with the most outstanding applications. 

Chief Adjudicator's Award

The Chief Adjudicator's Award is awarded to the ISA application that achieves the highest score each year. This award does not require a submission and the winner/s will receive a certificate of their achievement.

Free to Enter Award Categories

For 2025, we are launching 4 new free to enter awards alongside the existing 7. These awards are open to all. They will go live for entries on 4 October 2024. 

You do not have to purchase an International Safety Award application to enter any of the following free to enter awards.  

Please note, by applying for a free to enter award, you are agreeing that should you be successful and win an award, that you will allow us to use your organisation and logo as a case study in British Safety Council promotional activity. You also agree that you will work with us in the production of a video or other digital media to promote your achievement and the awards more generally. 

These award categories are now open!

NEW - Environmental Award

This award recognises an organisation that has used climate change risk assessment and vulnerability modelling to identify and plan for future adaptation strategies to a changing climate. 

Apply Now!

NEW - Rising Female Star Award in collaboration with SOWSHE-A

This award recognises women that are breaking through and shaping future leadership in the health, safety, wellbeing or the environmental management world. 

Apply Now!

NEW - David Parr Medal

This award recognises a public venue that developed a stand-out initiative in 2024 that made a significant impact on health, safety or wellbeing at the venue. It is named after British Safety Council’s late Technical Director, David Parr, who first became involved in the industry due to his own personal experiences at the Hillsborough disaster in 1989. 

Apply Now!

NEW - Lifetime Achievement Award

This new award is voted for by the Trustees of British Safety Council and given to people who have made an outstanding contribution to workplace health, safety and wellbeing throughout their career. 

Apply Now!

The CEO Award

Rewarding leadership and strategic vision of CEOs who have made a vital contribution to the health and safety of their business and to the wider society during 2024. This award recognises how an individual CEO takes an active role in aligning and championing their organisation's health, safety and wellbeing interests with their internal and external stakeholders. 

Apply Now!

Health Safety and Wellbeing Ambassador of the Year Award

The Health, Safety and Wellbeing Ambassador of the year Award recognises an employee who, in your opinion, has played a significant role to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of colleagues and others. 

Apply Now!

Team of the Year Award

The Team of the Year Award recognises the outstanding achievements resulting in a significant improvement to health, safety or wellbeing from a collaboration of stakeholders which may include members of the organisation, suppliers, subcontractors and/or the wider community. 

Apply Now!

The James Tye Award

Recognition for an organisation or a team of individuals who have developed and run a campaign in 2024 that has made a significant impact on the health, safety or wellbeing in the workplace. 

Apply Now!

Wellbeing Initiative Award Powered by Being Well Together

This award recognises and rewards those organisations that have demonstrated a proactive and effective approach to improving employee wellbeing. 

Apply Now!

Health and Safety Transformation Award - Sponsored by Croner-i

This category is for organisations that have significantly changed or transformed any aspect of health, safety or wellbeing to a significant extent through the use of information. Applicants will be asked to describe the transformation, how it was planned, what information was used to help achieve the transformation and what positive impact it has had on the organisation. 

Apply Now!

Seize the Opportunity Award

This award recognises organisations that have gone the extra mile to seize health, safety or wellbeing opportunities resulting from a crisis. 

Apply Now!

Key dates

27 September 2024 

Applications open for 2025 awards 

29 October 2024 

International Safety Awards Application Webinar 

1 November 2024 

Early bird pricing deadline 

14 January 2025 

International Safety Awards Application Webinar 

3 February 2025

Application submission deadline 

3 March 2025

Free to enter awards application submission deadline 

14 March 2025 

Results emailed to applicants 

18 March 2025 

Winner’s list published 

24 March 2025 

Result enquiry deadline 

15 April 2025 

Free to enter category finalists announced 

TBC 

International Safety Awards 2025 Gala Dinner 

Additional Support and Videos

Adjudication process and results 

The written applications are marked by an independent panel of adjudicators appointed, trained and monitored by British Safety Council. The adjudicators are all senior level health, safety, wellbeing and environmental practitioners. A rigorous standardisation process ensures that each adjudicator applies the marking scheme in exactly the same way so that all applications are marked consistently to the same standard.

Mentors 

We are looking to offer mentoring services to ISA applicants from 2026, to help organisations with their ISA applications. To progress this, we are keen to hear from previous winners (any category) that would be willing to act as a mentor to other clients, sharing how they achieved their success in the awards. An additional unmarked question has been added to the 2025 award application system in this regard.