DRAX Power Ltd of Selby has won a top award for health and safety.

The power station organisation has received the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents' Gold Award.

Dave Woodward, Drax's health and safety officer, received the accolade from Lord Brougham and Vaux, vice-president of RoSPA, during Health & Safety Expo 2005 awards at the Birmingham Hilton Metropole.

The Gold Award, which recognises and celebrates the achievement of a very high standard of health and safety at work over four years, came as a climax within the first year of Drax becoming an independent organisation.

Troubled former American owner AES severed ties with the company in August 2003, triggering huge changes at the top and in administrative practices for a new, independent Drax.

Part of this was a completely new look at its health and safety culture, which played a big part in winning the award.

The award takes into account not just accident rates but also a broad portfolio of evidence about safety systems in place, the safety culture and numbers of days lost.

Peter Emery, production director of Drax, said: "Over the last nine months we have taken some important decisions on health and safety work practices and we are already seeing the benefits of these.

"We are all very pleased that after a short absence, Drax is once again recognised as a worthy recipient of the RoSPA Gold Award."

Updated: 11:35 Friday, June 03, 2005