Representatives from the Lynn company received the accolade at a ceremony and banquet at London's Grosvenor House Hotel.

The gathering received a message of congratulations from Prime Minister Gordon Brown who said: "These awards recognise the crucial success that these organisations and their employees have achieved in their pursuit of excellence in the management of health, safety and environmental matters at an international level.

"The event provides an opportunity to publicly recognise the important contribution made by the British Safety Council in promoting health, safety and environmental best practice. I would like to place on record my appreciation of the support given by the Council in raising public awareness of the benefits effective health, safety and environmental management brings to business, employees, the environment and the economy as a whole.

"We will strive to accomplish our goals in reducing the burden on employers and employees and cutting the 36 million working days currently lost each year through work-related ill-health and injury."

To win an international award winners must have good safety policies, plans and commitment to health and safety at the highest level and also be trying to improve the safety culture within their organisation. They must detail their health and safety officers' qualifications and provide information about significant advances they have made in health and safety for the year.

Mr Brian Nimick, chief executive of the British Safety Council, said: "For more than 50 years, we have led the way in promoting health, safety and environmental best practice in society. In the 21st century, many organisations worldwide are now making health and safety a top priority.

"Through achieving an International Safety Award, Dow Chemical Company is helping to make our vision of a safe working environment a reality."