Tony Blair applauds recipients of British Safety Council’s “Sword of Honour” Award

New Delhi, Friday, December 1, 2005 Hon’ble Prime Minister of UK, Mr. Tony Blair has applauded the recipients of the British Safety Council’s Sword of Honour Award. GAIL was one of the recipients of the prestigious awards in a ceremony held in London on 25th November 2005. Tony Blair, Hon'ble Prime Minister of UK, in his congratulatory message, said: "These awards recognize the success of these organizations and their employees in their pursuit of excellence in the management of health, safety and environmental matters."

GAIL’s Gas Processing plants at Vijaipur in Madhya Pradesh and Gandhar in Gujarat received the awards. The 'Sword of Honour' of BSC is recognized world over as the pinnacle of achievement in health, safety and environment. GAIL‘s Vijaipur unit in MP has received the "Sword of Honour" for the fourth time, since 2000. The Gandhar unit has received the Sword for the second consecutive year.

Congratulating GAIL, Mr. David Ballard, Director General of the Council said "GAIL has shown its commitment to management excellence by demonstrating that a safety culture is integral to any organization. I am sure that GAIL’s business, its clients, and the community in which it operates are already seeing great benefits."

BSC is a registered charitable organization for education in health, safety and environment and is committed to help raise the standards of health, safety and environment in industrial establishments and the community at large. For the year 2005 three work centers of GAIL got "Five Star Ratings”. Only 40 companies, out of the recipients of "Five star Ratings" world over, were awarded the "Sword of Honour".

The Sword of Honour, now in its twenty sixth year, recognizes organizations that have implemented safety systems that are among the best in the world. Only organizations that achieve the maximum rating of five stars in the Council’s Five Star Health and Safety Management System Audit are eligible to apply. Organizations also have to prove they have a culture of aiming for best practice, promoted from the boardroom to the shop floor. The application form covers key areas of safety activity. All applications are independently adjudicated and standards this year were the highest yet.

.