Special Responsible Care Award for Process Safety Leadership

Improving Process Safety is key to protecting our people, hardware and the environment, enhancing our businesses and the reputation and sustainability of our industry.

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COMPLETE ONLINE ENTRY FORM (AVAILABLE JANUARY 2026)

Purpose

Improving Process Safety is key to protecting our people, hardware and the environment, enhancing our businesses and the reputation and sustainability of our industry. 

The Award will be given to the company or site that can demonstrate Excellence in Process Safety Leadership which has directly led to enhanced process safety performance. The award is open to any chemical manufacturing site in the UK.

This Award is designed to:

  • Promote Excellence in Process Safety leadership.

  • Champion Effectiveness/Innovation/Transformation.

  • Promote continuous improvement in process safety performance.

  • Sustain the high profile of Process Safety.

  • Reinforce Process Safety as an integral element within ‘Responsible Care.’

  • Raise expectations in the sharing of best practice.

Eligibility

The Award is open to any chemical manufacturing company in the UK. Following initial judging, applicants will be notified if they have been short-listed by 8 May 2026.

If a large number of entries are received, then short-listed applicants may be asked by the judges to either (a) provide additional written evidence or (b) make a short online ‘virtual’ oral presentation in support of their entry at a mutually agreed date/time.

The winner will be announced at the Chemical Industry Awards Dinner. 

Winning applicants should be willing to participate in publicity.

Entries

Entries can be based around established Process Safety leadership and management arrangements or a specific activity or activities, project or initiative which has been introduced into the business in the last 3 years. 

Judging

Entries will be judged by the sponsor, a CIA staff member, and at least one independent expert.

Judging Criteria

All entries (whether based on established effective Process Safety management or a specific activity or activities, project, or initiative) will be assessed using the following criteria.

  • The extent to which PSLG (Process Safety Leadership Principles) are being implemented and followed.
  • Level of engagement by site or company directors/leaders through actions from the top.
  • How well leaders communicate effectively about process safety across the site or organisation. 
  • How well senior leaders (regardless of their role or responsibilities) demonstrate an appropriate level of process safety competency and Process Safety knowledge.

Supporting evidence should be clear and concise. Consider providing: 

  • Basic data or metrics that demonstrate improvements in safety and, where possible, links with operational excellence (e.g. process safety improvement correlating with increase in OEE / reduction in downtime) 
  • Brief examples highlighting positive changes
  • Feedback or recognition from staff or external sources 
  • Any relevant awards or acknowledgements  

Ensure that each piece of evidence directly related to your initiative 

Supporting evidence and/or data may include:  

  • Key performance indicators (KPIs) showing trends over time 
  • Incident rates or records of near misses 
  • Summary tables or charts illustrating results 
  • Short narrative explaining the context of the data 

All supporting material should be relevant and presented in a straightforward manner. 

  • Level of engagement with and understanding by staff/plant personnel/contractors at all levels.
  • How staff/contractors are actively involved in the Process Safety management process.
  • How staff at all levels understand and deliver their role in controlling process safety risks
  • How is staff Process Safety competence developed and maintained over time?
 

 

Closing Date

Entries to be submitted electronically by 9 April 2026. 

Further Information

For further information please contact:

Diana Tamayo
Chemical Industries Association
Kings Buildings
Smith Square
London
SW10 3JJ
Tel:  +44 (0)20 7963 6791
Email:  tamayod@cia.org.uk

Confidentiality

All information provided in the entry form (except the 50 word summary, which will be published for all shortlisted candidates) will be treated in the strictest confidence. It will be used solely for the purpose of judging. Applicants will be consulted in case it is wished to use some material for future publicity purposes or for development of case studies.