OKEHAMPTON'S Initial Hygiene is celebrating winning gold at the prestigious Occupational Health and Safety Awards, organised by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accident (RoSPA).

For the second year, the company, based on North Road industrial estate, has achieved gold for its continued improvement and high performance in health and safety management.

According to RoSPA, every year in the UK there are still 1.6 million workplace injuries with 7.3 million days lost through injury. Health and safety failures currently cost Britain's employers up to £6.5 billion every year.

But as Initial Hygiene's health and safety manager, Mick Clow explained: 'The awards are not just about reducing the number of accidents at work, they are also about ensuring organisations have good health and safety management systems in place.

'They help to reinforce that good health and safety is good business and clearly demonstrates an organisation's commitment at all levels to achieve high standards of performance in this crucial area.'