Two GAIL plants receive British Sword of Honour

New Delhi, November 29, 2005: Two plants of GAIL (India) Limited have received the British Safety Council (BSC) Sword of Honour award. The company’s Gas Processing plants at Vijaipur in Madhya Pradesh and Gandhar in Gujarat received the awards in London recently. The ‘Sword of Honour’ of BSC is recognised world over as the pinnacle of achievement in health, safety and environment.

Congratulating GAIL, Mr. David Ballard, Director General of the Council said “You have shown your commitment to excellence by demonstrating that a safety culture is integral to your organisation. I am sure that your business, your clients, and the community in which you operate are already seeing great benefits.”

BSC is a registered charitable organisation for education in health, safety and environment and is committed to helping raise the standards of Health, Safety and Environment in industrial establishments and the community at large. For the year 2005 three work centres 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”.

GAIL Unit at Vijaipur in MP has received “Sword of Honour” for the fourth time, since 2000. The Gandhar unit has received the Sword for the second consecutive year.

The Sword of Honour, now in its twenty sixth year, recognises organisations that have implemented safety systems that are among the best in the world. Only organisations that achieve the maximum rating of five stars in the Council’s Five Star Health and Safety Management System Audit are eligible to apply. Organisations 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.

Mr. Tony Blair, Hon’ble Prime Minister of UK, in his congratulatory message, said: “These awards recognise the success of these organisations and their employees in their pursuit of excellence in the management of health, safety and environmental matters.”

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