CARDIFF and St Athan airports have been honoured with the AirportsUK Medium-Sized Airport Health and Safety Award, recognising their outstanding teamwork and commitment to safety and security.
The accolade was presented during AirportsUK’s Health & Safety Week Awards Ceremony, which took place from Monday 13th to Sunday 19th May 2024. The annual event, observed by airports across the UK, is a partnership between AirportsUK (formerly AOA) and organisations including the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), and aviation services provider Leidos.
Cardiff Airport invited colleagues and partners to explore the day-to-day operations, including fire and airfield safety measures. Activities focused on key safety areas, such as personal protective equipment, working at height, and airside environment safety for both staff and passengers. The weeklong event embraced the slogan “Save Tomorrow with Safety Today.”
Participants also had the opportunity to engage in sessions covering habitat management, bird control, aircraft push-back procedures with Swissport, the dangers of lithium batteries, cyber security, and the use of CPR and defibrillators.
Ceri Mashlan, Cardiff Airport’s Operations Director, expressed pride in the award and praised the dedication of the team. She said: “This is fantastic recognition for the entire team at both Cardiff and St Athan airports. Thank you to our teams who worked tirelessly planning and delivering such a successful event that we’ll all look back on with pride. Our brilliant video, which you can watch on YouTube, showcases the hard work colleagues undertake daily, ensuring safety and security remains our number one priority at the airport.”
The award ceremony also saw Baroness Ruby McGregor-Smith CBE, Chair of AirportsUK, highlight the importance of health and safety in the aviation industry. “The health and safety of passengers, staff, and local communities is the number one priority of airports. These Health and Safety Awards are an opportunity to showcase and recognise how airports continue to create healthier, more secure aviation environments.”
Karen Dee, Chief Executive of AirportsUK, added: “What really impressed us with this year’s winners was how they incorporate health and safety into everything they do, all year round. We hope that by highlighting the brilliant work being done, we can help everyone appreciate the importance of ensuring a safe and wellbeing-oriented environment. All our members do such incredible work, which makes them world leaders in the area.”
The Health & Safety Week Awards are seen as a significant moment in the aviation industry calendar, helping to promote safety and security across UK airports.
To view Cardiff Airport’s video highlighting their safety efforts, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yfuD7MjKeU.
