How a global organisation uses the RoSPA Awards to benchmark safety
Achievement:
In 2023, Xylem achieved 14 RoSPA Health and Safety Awards (eight Gold Awards, three Silver Awards, and three Bronze Awards) representing eight different countries. This increased to 42 Awards in 2024 including International Winner of the Most Improved Member Award, plus 21 Golds, 18 Silvers, one Bronze Award and one Fleet Safety Gold Award. They were also Highly Commended in the Health and Safety Beyond the Workplace Trophy category.
Background:
Xylem is a leading global water technology company with operations in over 150 countries, with more than 400 sites globally, employing approximately 23,000 dedicated professionals. The organisation is dedicated to solving the world’s most critical water challenges through innovation, empowerment, and accountability. Its operations span various regions, including North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America.
We talked to Xylem’s Director: Environment, Health, Safety, and Operational Sustainability, Autumn Crum, about how the company has used the RoSPA Awards to drive continuous improvement...
How did you feel about your success at the 2024 Awards?
“We are incredibly proud of our success at the 2024 RoSPA Awards, where we received 42 awards, tripling our achievements from the previous year. This recognition highlights our commitment to health and safety across our operations. The Awards acknowledged our comprehensive health and safety management systems, leadership, employee engagement, risk assessment, and proactive approach to health and safety culture. This achievement not only celebrates our efforts but also motivates us to continue striving for excellence.”
Why did you decide that you wanted to use an external awards scheme?
“We chose to participate in an external awards scheme to benchmark our health and safety performance against industry standards and best practices and to gain external validation. By participating in a prestigious programme like the RoSPA Awards, we aim to assess our performance and identify areas for improvement, learn from leading safety practitioners, and amplify our efforts to innovate and create a safe and healthy work environment for our colleagues.”
Why did you choose the RoSPA Awards?
“The RoSPA Awards were an obvious choice for us due to their comprehensive assessment criteria, which align with our values of creating a safety culture where we care for our colleagues’ wellbeing.
“The Awards also give us the opportunity to benchmark against the best in the industry. We were particularly drawn to the evaluation process, which provides a holistic view of health and safety management from leadership and employee involvement to risk control and incident investigation.
“Additionally, the RoSPA Awards are globally renowned and have a long-standing history, which makes them an ideal platform for showcasing our commitment to safety.”
How have you rolled out the scheme across the organisation?
“Our strategy for rolling out the RoSPA Awards scheme across Xylem was systematic and inclusive, ensuring that all regions, operations, and levels of the organisation were involved and committed.
“In the first year, 16 sites actively participated in the application process. This initial phase was supported by a kick-off call organised by RoSPA to give our teams insights into the award scheme.
“Our efforts that first year resulted in 14 RoSPA Awards. We promoted our success internally and started gaining recognition and support for our efforts. Embracing the principles of continuous improvement, we dedicated time after our first year to develop a set of best practices and launched a training programme, empowering our applicants with the knowledge necessary to complete the application process effectively.
“With the support we gained from recognition after our first year, we expanded our efforts in the subsequent year to 40 applicants. To maintain momentum, we established regular communication and feedback sessions. These one-on-one and town hall-style sessions served as a platform for transparency and encouraged active participation from everyone.
“Our efforts have helped us transform our safety culture and led Xylem to be recognised by RoSPA with 42 Awards in 2024. We amplified our success internally and externally by celebrating our wins and showcasing them in Xylem’s annual Sustainability Report.
“At the heart of our efforts was cultivating a culture of care among colleagues. We recognize that such an environment is essential for our well-being and the success of our safety programs, and the RoSPA Award scheme has helped us reinforce our commitment and dedication.”
What has the response from your broader organisation been?
“The response from our broader organisation has been overwhelmingly positive. Colleagues at all levels have shown increased engagement and pride in our achievements. RoSPA's recognition has emphasised the importance of our safety and wellbeing initiatives and reinforced our culture of caring for one another.”
What are the next steps, and what are your aims/aspirations, short-term and long-term?
“In the short term, we aim to sustain and build upon our achievements and the practices that led to our RoSPA success. We will share lessons learned and best practices throughout our organisation and continue investing in our people and processes to achieve a zero-harm, high-impact culture. In the long-term, we aspire to expand our awards beyond achievement and into industry sector and specialist awards. We also plan to integrate advanced technologies and innovative practices and participate in RoSPA campaigns like road safety and safety at home to further contribute to a safer environment overall.”
How do you plan to use the RoSPA Awards as part of your ESG approach?
“The RoSPA Awards play an important role in our Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy. They provide a measurable benchmark for our safety standards, demonstrating our commitment to social responsibility and employee wellbeing. Moving forward, we plan to continue leveraging this recognition to strengthen our ESG initiatives, aligning our safety practices with broader sustainability goals.”
Would you recommend this approach to others looking to benchmark safety standards in their organisation?
“I highly recommend the RoSPA Awards to others looking to benchmark their organisation and enhance their health, safety, and wellbeing efforts. The comprehensive assessment process provides valuable insights and recognition that can drive continuous improvement and foster a strong safety culture. We have been able to utilise the feedback from our individual and collective assessments to drive organisational improvement priorities, leaning on those with best practices to share across the organisation. Participating in the RoSPA Awards can lead to significant benefits for the organisation, its employees, and stakeholders. Engaging with RoSPA is more than just participating in an awards scheme; it’s about being part of a community that values and promotes safety at work and at home.”
August 2024
“I highly recommend the RoSPA Awards to others looking to benchmark their organisation and enhance their health, safety, and wellbeing efforts. The comprehensive assessment process provides valuable insights and recognition that can drive continuous improvement and foster a strong safety culture..”
Autumn Crum, Xylem
Find out all about the RoSPA Health and Safety Awards 2025 at: www.rospa.com/awards