A life-saving device has given a Kent company the Queen's seal of approval for the third time.

Checkmate Lifting and Safety, based in Sheerness, has won Queen's Awards in 2004, 2008 and 2011.

The latest award - for Innovation - is for its Xcalibre Fall Arrest Blocks which prevent the most common cause of death in the workplace - falling from a height.

The product, designed and developed by the firm, effectively acts as a brake on a worker falling from a height.

The latest annual figures (2008/9) from the Health & Safety Executive show that 35 people died and more than 11,700 were injured following falls in the workplace.

Oliver Auston, Checkmate's lifting and safety managing director: "We passionately believe that innovation is a key to business success, and Xcalibre embodies that, allowing us to sell across the UK and the world against cheaper, foreign-made alternatives.

"Quite simply, it's the best at saving lives and preventing injury."

Checkmate employs almost 100 people, and has four divisions operating in two UK locations - Sheerness and Melksham, Wiltshire.

Clients include the Palace of Westminster, the Ministry of Defence and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

The firm was founded in 1974 by Paul Auston, the group chairman.