The health, safety and environment team behind Manchester Airport's £1 billion transformation project has secured a prestigious industry award.

Laing O'Rourke's group was named Team of the Year in the RoSPA Awards, recognising achievement in health and safety management systems, including practices such as leadership and workforce involvement.

The Manchester Airport works saw the introduction of a giant new pier, which connects to Terminal 2 and provides panoramic views of the airfield. The new 216m pier will be used by all airlines currently operating out of T2.

It has been built with more than 300 individual panes of glass and is equipped with 11 gates and airbridges, more than 1,400 seats and stylish wayfinding throughout.

Andrew Swindells, Laing O'Rourke health, safety & environment manager said: "It's a great achievement for the team. The Manchester Airport Transformation project is one of the biggest in the country with an average of £1million worth of construction happening every day. During 2018, the team focused on creating a strategy based on one of its core principles – 'Safety is the Presence of Positives' – placing a priority on being proactive in seeking out opportunities to add resilience to existing processes.


"They introduced a number of initiatives that have gone a long way to underpinning the positive standards on site. One of these initiatives led to the life of an operative being saved following a cardiac arrest, with the introduction of both CPR training and multiple project defibrillators signposted in the main work areas."

The Team of the Year Award is part of the new Inspiration Awards category, which recognise individuals, teams and projects that are a source of inspiration and pride.

Julia Small, RoSPA's head of qualifications, awards and events, said: "It's a huge achievement to be named Team of the Year, and judges were impressed with the standards that have been set for the Manchester Airport project.

"The RoSPA Awards are the most highly-respected in the health and safety arena, with almost 2,000 entrants every year, and allow organisations to prove excellence in the workplace, demonstrating a commitment to the wellbeing of not only employees but all those who interact with it."

The Team of the Year Award is part of the new Inspiration Awards category, which recognises individuals, teams and projects that are a source of inspiration and pride.

Laing O'Rourke secured the prize at an awards ceremony in Birmingham on 06 June.

(CM/JG)