Lars Mose and Karsten Urup (far right) with the certificate naming them as the winners of the ‘My Best Colleague’ award. The award has been instituted by the Danish Deaf Association, which was represented by its Chairman, Asger Bergmann (second from left) and employees. HRH The Crown Prince presented the award. Factory Manager Per Laursen (centre back) was also present. Photo: Steen Brogaard.

The two colleagues had swapped their normal slaughterhouse workwear for a shirt and jacket for the event and were presented with the award by HRH The Crown Prince as winners of the ‘My Best Colleague’ labour market prize instituted by the Danish Deaf Association (DDL).

Karsten Urup and Lars Mose received the award because they have worked to build bridges between hearing and deaf employees at the slaughterhouse in Horsens. Among other things, the two colleagues have organised a sign language course for employees.

"The panel has decided that the award should go to Lars and Karsten because they have together shown that deaf and hearing colleagues can and must work together and communicate with each other on an equal footing. They have not been thrown by the challenge of having to communicate across Danish spoken language and Danish sign language, but have seized this opportunity to embark on an exciting learning process," said Asger Bergmann, Chairman of the Danish Deaf Association, after the ceremony.

Both were proud to receive the award and meet HRH The Crown Prince who was very interested and drew parallels to his own experiences as a diver and parachuter, where the use of signs, if not sign language, is also very important.

"It was a great experience, but it is not only our achievement. I would like to thank all our colleagues, both deaf and hearing, who have made it possible," said M Urup via a sign language interpreter.

"I would also like to mention Danish Crown as a workplace which does not turn away deaf people. The company does not just see problems in employing deaf people, and that is positive," he said.

Factory Manager Per Laursen, who attended the ceremony, is also proud to be working for a company which is recognised in this way.

"It reflects our way of going about things and finding solutions. It is not a question of time and money and resources, it is a question of attitude. We have five employees who are deaf, and in each case we find a solution so that we can communicate with each other, much in the same way that we do with our Polish employees," said Per Laursen.