RoSPA SAFETY AWARD FOR PORTASILO

York-based solids handling and processing specialist Portasilo has won a Silver Award from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) in recognition of its safety record. The 2015 award is the first for the company, part of the building services group Shepherd.

Portasilo employs 80 people at sites in York and in India, where demand for its solids handling and processing designs and equipment has helped boost export sales from just 10 per cent of turnover in 2008 to approximately 30 per cent in 2013.

The RoSPA Occupational Health and Safety Awards are internationally recognised and have fast become the most sought after accolade by organisations from every sector. The majority of RoSPA's awards are non-competitive, grading achievement at merit, bronze, silver and gold levels. Organisations that maintain high standards in consecutive years can win gold medals, president's awards and orders of distinction.

David Rawlins, RoSPA's awards manager, said: "The RoSPA Awards encourage improvement in occupational health and safety management. Organisations that gain recognition for their health and safety management systems, such as Portasilo, contribute to raising standards overall and we congratulate them."

RoSPA Silver Award winners have achieved a high level of performance underpinned by good management systems which are delivering consistent improvement and are working towards the level of excellence required for a Gold Award.

Portasilo's managing director Neil Gardiner said: "We are very proud to receive such a prestigious award in recognition of the focus, hard work and diligence Portasilo puts into health and safety.

"Our work involves designing, building and installing very large steel structures sometimes in hazardous environments, and we are proud of our team's commitment to deliver safe operations whether that is on our own site or those of our clients. This award is for every member of our dedicated and professional team, well done to all."

Some of Portasilo's recent projects include a bulk material handling solution capable of recycling 70,000 tonnes of bottles each year (see photo attached), and the largest coal to biomass conversion at Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire.

The RoSPA Silver Award will be presented at a ceremony in Birmingham on July 14, 2015.

ENDS

Notes for Editors

Portasilo has been delivering complex bulk material handling systems, from design and manufacture to install and commission, to customers in the international food, chemical, energy, nuclear and water sectors for 60 years. Market leading clients include Mars, Heinz, Drax, Yorkshire Water, Asian Paints and Tata Group. Portasilo's bespoke engineered products including silos, conveyors and dischargers are built by skilled specialists at the company's manufacturing facilities in York and are backed by a first class service to support customers in the field and provide planned maintenance, spares, repairs and product upgrading. Portasilo currently employs 80 people at sites in Yorkshire, UK and India. It is part of the Shepherd Group, a family-owned firm that employs around 3,200 people around the world and has an annual turnover exceeding £650 million. www.portasilo.co.uk.