A NEWTON Aycliffe company has become the first in the county to win an award for its work to improve the health and wellbeing of employees.

3M, which employs about 350 people at its Heighington Lane site, has been presented with a gold award in the Working for Health in County Durham initiative, run by Sedgefield Primary Care Trust.

The site has long been recognised for its pioneering work in health and safety matters, with ongoing lifestyle education schemes including smoking cessation, walking for health, stress management and alcohol and drug awareness programmes.

Dr Alyson Learmonth, the primary care trust's director of public health, said: "3M has shown a great example through the health improvement programmes it has been running in the workplace over recent years.

"The company has proved it has a real commitment to keeping up the momentum."

3M manufactures respiratory protection products for worker safety, as well as environmental protection materials, at its Aycliffe site.

The company's occupational health advisor, Pat Hardy, said the site's safety infrastructure had been redefined to give equal status to safety, health and environmental isses.

Three sub-committees have been established, each dedicated to a specific subject area, and these all report to the site's safety, health and environmental committee.

She said: "We have always encouraged the close involvement of the workforce across the site, and many of our special events are run in direct response to requests from our employees.

"We are delighted that our success has been reflected by winning this gold award."

To find out more about the Working for Health in County Durham initiative, contact Clair White on (01429) 880888.