A FACTORY has received the British Safety Council's five- star Safety Award.

Caterpillar Peterlee, which manufactures articulated trucks, won the award after an intensive audit of its health and safety management system.

The British Safety Council revealed this week that each year 160,000 people are forced to give up work because of long term illness or disability.

A spokesman said: "This amounts to a loss of about 25 million working days in the UK each year and an annual £18bn burden to British industry. The five-star Safety Award helps organisations combat such implicating figures.''

Following one of the most comprehensive safety evaluations in the world, organisations are awarded star ratings - from one to five - to indicate the effectiveness of their safety programmes.

David Ballard, director general of the British Safety Council, said: "Good safety is good business and can save firms hundreds of thousands of pounds.

"In winning a five-star award, Caterpillar Peterlee has shown real commitment to improving health and safety in the workplace."

He said: "Integrating this into the overall management agenda is undoubtedly the key to improving health and safety standards in the workplace and preventing accidents. I hope it will continue to build on its achievements and that others will follow its good example.