BUSINESSES from County Durham have been recognised by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents for achievements in workplace safety in the past year.

Fourteen organisations have been given Occupational Health and Safety Awards.

Gold awards went to: Darlington Borough Council's environmental services division; Amec Industrial and Mech-Tool Engineering, in Darlington; GlaxoSmithKline, in Barnard Castle; 3M, in Newton Aycliffe; Hall Construction Services, in Rushyford; Keir Northern, east Durham; Komatsu UK, in Chester-le-Street; Wensley Roofing, in Chester-le-Street; Carlsberg, in Durham City; and Northern Electric, Durham City.

Silver awards went to HJ Banks Mining, in Ferryhill; Parker Domnick Hunter, in Birtley; and Process Filtration, in Birtley.

Birtley-based ROSH Engineering was given the President's medal.