Accident prevention and road safety initiatives have brought Devonport Naval Base two safety awards.

The Plymouth establishment was placed second and awarded a commendation by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) in the National Defence Sector category of their 2004 awards scheme.

The accolade is a result of the active participation of managers and employees in promoting a culture of health and safety at the base, putting Devonport in the van of safety issues in the public sector.

The RoSPA award recognises Devonport’s achievement in consistently reducing the number of accidents at the base over the past three years, as defined in the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995.

Other initiatives which have contributed to Devonport’s success include the introduction of a health screening programme for civilian staff, a two-day major fire exercise involving 40 agencies conducted at Thanckes Oil Fuel Depot in Torpoint and visits to buildings within the Naval Base leased by contractors to advise on health and safety matters.

Devonport has also taken part in the MOD Annual Road Safety Competition, and it was the only naval base to win a prize.

Around 4,000 Ministry of Defence sites are eligible to take part, and Devonport was awarded third place.

The establishment – the largest naval base in Western Europe – has an extensive road network, with heavy traffic flow throughout the working day.

Initiatives have included the opportunity for staff to take a driving assessment with the Institute of Advanced Motorists to promote safe driving both inside the base and on the public highway – and Naval Base Commander Commodore Andrew Mathews led the way by signing himself up to take the test.

Commodore Mathews said: “The safety of our workforce and the wider community is paramount in everything we do at Devonport.

“These awards demonstrate our commitment to health and safety matters and puts Devonport at the forefront of safety issues in the public sector.”