The firm’s in-house Safety Recognition Scheme offers a series of awards for employees who help promote safe scaffolding.

Staff nominate each other for the awards which include one extra day’s holiday with pay plus a monthly/quarterly £100 charitable donation made by XERVON Palmers to the winners’ charity of choice.

The top annual award is a weekend break in the UK for two.

Winners will be judged on proactive solutions and behaviour like sound safety observations, sensible interventions, making safety suggestions and reporting ‘close calls’.

The scheme launched last month and the first winner was Mick Burrows for his outstanding safety contribution on the Kingston Bridge Project.

Ian McFarlane, Director for Business & Project Development at XERVON Palmers said: “Whilst working on a night shift, XERVON Palmers and our key subcontractor Envirowrap were requested to work in two areas instead of the planned one.

“When Mick reviewed the works, he ascertained that the second work area had very poor lighting, plus there was an added danger of a live high voltage third line very close by, combined with the fact that there was only one Controller of Site Safety (COSS) available on site.

“Mick sensibly took it upon himself to act by stopping work and deciding to revert to the original plan of working in one area at a time.

“This meant the COSS and lighting could be concentrated in one area rather than depleted across two, meaning operations could carry on safely avoiding a potential accident.

“This new reward-led initiative will help us continue to set the highest possible standards in health and safety in the scaffolding and access industry.

“It’s all part of a wider aim to maintain, improve and encourage our existing safety-focused, skilled working teams to ensure that the operations we provide for our clients are executed safely.

“We encourage all to think and take time out to ensure they protect themselves, the public and those around them when they are at work – and when good behaviors such as Mick’s are observed we should reward and recognise those individuals who work with safety at the forefront of their mind.”