British Safety Council launches 2026 safety awards recognising global excellence

by EventsFeatured NewsSafety

Applications open for 2026 International Safety Awards

The British Safety Council has announced that applications are now open for the 2026 International Safety Awards.

The awards recognise organisations that demonstrate outstanding management of health, safety and wellbeing across the workplace.

Now in their 68th year, the International Safety Awards are among the longest-running global programmes of their kind.

Chief Executive of the British Safety Council, Mike Robinson, said: “British Safety Council’s International Safety Awards have long been seen by leaders and practitioners as a pinnacle of achievement and recognition in protecting and ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of workers.

“It is our vision at British Safety Council that no-one should be injured or made ill through their work – anywhere in the world.

“I would encourage all organisations and leaders around the world who are proud of their track record to put themselves forward for an award.”

In 2025, 789 organisations received awards across 45 countries, representing sectors including construction, manufacturing, oil, gas, mining, power and utilities.

The closing date for 2026 applications is 2 February 2026, with results due to be announced on 17 March 2026.

Award categories and entry details

According to the British Safety Council, the 2026 awards will recognise excellence across four main categories.

Sector Awards will identify the top-performing submissions by industry.

Best in Country Awards will highlight the highest-scoring applications within nations that have sufficient participation.

The Best in Company Award will recognise sites demonstrating exceptional performance within organisations that have 50 or more participating locations.

The Chief Adjudicator’s Award will honour applications judged to be the most outstanding overall.

Eleven free-to-enter awards available

The British Safety Council confirmed that eleven categories remain free to enter, regardless of participation in the main International Safety Awards.

These include the Environmental Award, which recognises organisations using climate change risk assessment and vulnerability modelling to plan adaptation strategies.

The Rising Female Star Award, held in collaboration with SOWSHE-A, celebrates women shaping future leadership in health, safety, wellbeing and environmental management.

The David Parr Medal honours a public venue initiative with a measurable impact on health, safety or wellbeing, named after the late Technical Director whose industry involvement was inspired by the Hillsborough disaster.

The Lifetime Achievement Award will be voted for by the British Safety Council’s Trustees and celebrates outstanding contributions to workplace health and safety.

Further categories include the Seize the Opportunity Award, CEO Award, Health and Safety Transformation Award, Health, Safety and Wellbeing Ambassador of the Year, Team of the Year Award, the James Tye Award, and the Wellbeing Initiative Award.

Global participation and recognition

The British Safety Council said the 2025 awards drew winners from across 45 countries, illustrating the international reach of the programme.

Each award, the organisation explained, provides a benchmark for organisations to measure and improve their approach to occupational health and safety.

Robinson added that the Council’s mission remains focused on protecting workers globally through continuous learning and recognition of excellence.

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

For fire and safety professionals, the International Safety Awards offer a framework for benchmarking organisational performance against recognised standards of health, safety and wellbeing management.

Those involved in operational risk management, compliance or corporate safety leadership can use the awards process to evaluate safety systems and identify areas for development.

Senior safety officers, training leads and health and safety consultants can also review past winners’ approaches to identify transferable strategies applicable to emergency services, industrial safety, and high-risk sectors such as oil, gas and construction.

NVFC extends submission period for 2026 training summit proposals

by Americas - Featured NewsAssociations and OrganisationsEventsFeatured NewsTraining

NVFC extends deadline for 2026 training summit proposals

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has extended the submission deadline for presentation proposals for the 2026 NVFC Training Summit.

The organisation said qualified instructors and speakers now have until 2 November 2025 to submit proposals.

According to the NVFC, the extension was granted to accommodate those affected by the government shutdown.

The annual NVFC Training Summit will take place from 26–27 June 2026 in Arlington, Virginia.

The NVFC said the event provides a platform for first responders to exchange ideas, share best practices and participate in professional development sessions.

Focus on health, leadership and recruitment

The NVFC confirmed that breakout sessions will be organised across three main tracks: responder health, safety and training; volunteer recruitment and retention; and emergency service leadership.

Each session will run for 90 minutes.

Examples of potential presentation topics include fireground response, physical and behavioural health, fire and life safety education, mentorship, family engagement, communication, management and long-term planning.

Other suggested subjects include the use of technology and artificial intelligence for fire departments, data for the fire service and strategies for finding funding and resources.

The organisation said it encourages a wide range of perspectives and experience among presenters.

Proposal review and presenter support

According to the NVFC, all proposals will undergo a peer review process.

Selections will be made based on quality, relevance, practical application, focus and the presenter’s experience and credentials.

Successful applicants will be notified by early December.

The NVFC confirmed it will cover travel expenses and provide a stipend for selected presenters.

Teaching teams may apply, but only one instructor per course will be eligible for reimbursement and stipend support.

The NVFC noted that all sessions must remain educational in nature, even when delivered by company or organisational representatives.

Further information, including detailed guidance on writing a strong proposal, can be found in the NVFC Call for Presentations Guide.

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

The extended deadline provides additional time for fire and emergency service professionals to submit proposals for inclusion in the 2026 NVFC Training Summit.

The event offers opportunities for training officers, volunteer coordinators and fire department leaders to share methods that strengthen responder safety, health and leadership.

Its three-track structure will address issues directly relevant to operational preparedness, personnel retention and organisational development within volunteer fire services.

By covering topics such as technology adoption, data use and recruitment practices, the summit provides a platform for exchange that could inform local and national training standards.

Wildfire conference in Athens highlights space technology for global fire resilience

by Breaking NewsEventsFire DetectionWildland Fire

Global wildfire experts meet in Athens to share new fire resilience strategies

OroraTech hosted its 3rd International Wildfire Conference (IWC) in Athens, Greece, gathering more than 90 experts, emergency responders, scientists and policymakers from six continents.

The company said the 2025 event focused on strategies and technologies for addressing intensifying wildfire threats.

Greece, one of Europe’s most wildfire-prone countries, recorded more than 47,393 hectares burned between January and August 2025, making it the fifth most destructive season in two decades.

OroraTech said Athens was selected as a relevant setting to discuss wildfire management and the future of satellite-based monitoring.

Government leaders highlight space-based wildfire collaboration

Professor Konstantinos Karantzalos, Secretary General for Telecommunications and Post at the Greek Ministry of Digital Governance, opened the conference with remarks on the role of technology in national resilience.

Professor Karantzalos said: “OroraTech brings to Greece not only its dedication and expertise, but also a profound commitment to using innovation for the common good.

“In just one year, their Greek team has built a hub of space technology and wildfire intelligence that reflects the very best of our growing ecosystem.”

Dimitris Bliziotis, Earth Observation Officer at the Hellenic Space Center, commented: “This collaboration is exactly what we need to meet the challenges of climate change: cutting-edge tools, brilliant minds, and a shared mission to protect our people and our planet.”

Satellite systems developed under Greece’s national space programme

According to OroraTech, Greece’s wildfire response capability now includes four thermal satellites developed under the Ministry of Digital Governance.

The project forms part of the Hellenic Fire System and is supported by the Hellenic Space Center.

The company explained that data from the system is shared with the Hellenic Fire Service.

It added that the initiative is part of the Greek National Satellite Space Project implemented under contract with the European Space Agency (ESA).

The programme falls within the National Recovery and Resilience Plan ‘Greece 2.0’, funded through the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF).

Speakers call for coordinated action on wildfire resilience

Speakers from several countries shared perspectives on climate-driven wildfire risks and technology-based response.

Dr Lori Moore-Merrell, former U.S. Fire Administrator, emphasised that climate change is driving new levels of wildfire risk and that preparation is no longer optional.

Mathieu Payette, Director of Aviation Services at SOPFEU in Canada, and Bliziotis of the Hellenic Space Center both outlined how satellite systems enable real-time detection and visualisation of wildfire emergencies.

Fire Chief Eugene Wells of Global Fire Rescue and Fire Colonel Zisoula Ntasiou of the Hellenic Fire Corps described how new operational technologies are supporting firefighters on the ground and helping protect communities.

Axel Roenneke, Chief Commercial Officer at OroraTech, said: “Wildfire resilience cannot be solved in isolation. It requires a joint effort from many players in coordination, from prevention to better simulation and real-time insights.

“It is critical that we work as a community to bring these aspects together. Our conference is an inspiring forum of customers and friends to share the best ideas, vision.

“We now protect over 470 million hectares worldwide – that’s larger than the European Union. By monitoring their land, our customers have saved millions in mitigation costs, and more than 50 million tons of CO2 that would have otherwise been released into the atmosphere by wildfires.”

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

The International Wildfire Conference highlighted practical developments in satellite-based fire monitoring that are likely to influence emergency coordination and operational planning.

Fire and rescue agencies, government departments, and emergency management professionals can apply the insights shared on thermal satellite data and early detection systems to improve situational awareness.

Procurement and planning officers involved in national or regional wildfire response programmes may also find relevance in the Hellenic Fire System’s integration of satellite intelligence with ground operations.

The event demonstrated how partnerships between governments, space agencies, and technology providers are shaping new standards for fire resilience at both national and transnational levels.

Domino’s teams with NFPA to promote fire prevention nationally

by Associations and OrganisationsEventsFeatured NewsFire Detection

Domino’s, NFPA relaunch fire prevention outreach during Fire Prevention Week

Domino’s Pizza and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) have relaunched a fire prevention campaign during Fire Prevention Week (5–11 October).

The initiative aims to raise awareness of smoke alarms and battery safety in U.S. homes.

For the eighteenth consecutive year, participating Domino’s stores will collaborate with local fire departments to deliver fire safety messages directly to households.

Free pizza tied to working smoke alarms

During the campaign, customers ordering from participating Domino’s stores may see a fire engine accompany their delivery.

If the home’s smoke alarms are working, the pizza is provided free.

If the alarms are not functioning, firefighters will replace batteries or install fully working alarms.

Domino’s senior director of external communications, Jenny Fouracre, said: “Every year, Domino’s stores look forward to teaming up with their local fire departments and NFPA to spread fire safety messages in an exciting and unexpected way.

“Domino’s has brought this program to neighborhoods across the U.S. for 18 years now, helping reinforce the importance of working smoke alarms in a fun, impactful way.”

Theme focus: lithium-ion battery safety

This year’s campaign theme is Charge into Fire Safety: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home.

Participating stores will include flyers atop pizza boxes highlighting safe practices for purchasing, charging and recycling lithium-ion batteries.

These flyers aim to raise awareness of fire risks associated with misuse of lithium-ion batteries.

Lorraine Carli, NFPA vice president of outreach and advocacy, said: “Fire continues to present real risks to the public, particularly at home, where the majority of U.S. home fire deaths happen.

“Having working smoke alarms in the home is critical to safety, giving people the time needed to escape safely – whatever the cause of that fire may be.”

NFPA’s guidance for battery and smoke alarm safety includes: install smoke alarms on every level and in every bedroom; test alarms monthly; and replace alarms after ten years or when they fail.

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

Fire safety officers and community outreach coordinators may study the Domino’s–NFPA programme as a model of public engagement that uses a private-sector channel (food delivery) to promote safety awareness.

Fire chiefs and local department planners may consider the logistics of deploying fire department resources into educational delivery efforts tied to commercial partners.

Standards bodies and procurement officers in fire protection can observe how the campaign highlights smoke alarm performance and battery practices, reinforcing maintenance and replacement cycles.

Electrical engineers and building services professionals may note the increased focus on lithium-ion battery safety inside homes and how it aligns with fire risk management strategies.

This article was informed by information from the following source(s): Domino’s Pizza