AV Technology Ltd (AVT) is one of the latest group of successful companies to join a leading edge scheme, designed to help industry improve its safety record.
The Manchester-based firm recently received accreditation from SAFEcontractor, a programme which recognises very high standards of health and safety practice amongst UK contractors.
Employing over 80 people throughout the UK, AVT provides manufacturing maintenance and reliability services, and structural integrity monitoring consultancy.
Specialising in the oil and gas, and food and beverage industries, and with a £6 million turnover, AVT’s most recent clients have included major players such as Dairy Crest, Cargill Foods, Shell, McCains, INEOS, BHP Billiton and many others.
The company’s application for SAFEcontractor accreditation was driven by the need for a uniform standard across the business.
Steve Mottershead, AVT’s Managing Director, said of the achievement “I am very proud that we have achieved this prestigious and high quality accreditation. Along with our recent British Safety Council award, it helps provide our staff and clients with confidence that we take Health and Safety seriously.”
SAFEcontractor accreditation is expected to enhance the company’s ability to attract new contracts and its commitment to safety will be viewed positively by its insurers when the company liability policy is up for renewal.
It is applicable to most sectors although it is particularly relevant to the food manufacturing, property, facilities management, retail and leisure sectors, all of which are big users of contract services.
John Kinge, Head of Risk at SAFEcontractor said, “Major organisations can no longer run the risk of employing contractors who are not able to prove that they have sound health and safety policies.
“More companies need to understand the importance of adopting good risk management in the way that AVT has done. The consultancy’s high standard has set an example, which hopefully will be followed by other companies within the sector.”
Under the SAFEcontractor system, businesses undergo a vetting process, which examines health and safety procedures and their track record for safe practice. Those companies meeting the high standard are included on a database, which is accessible to registered users only via a website, www.safecontractors.com.
Employer-organisations who sign up to the scheme can access the database, enabling them to vet potential contractors before they even set foot on site. These employers agree that, as users of the scheme, they will engage only those who have received accreditation.
Over one hundred and fifty major nationwide businesses, from several key sectors, have signed up to use the scheme when selecting contractors for services such as building, cleaning, maintenance, refurbishment or electrical and mechanical work.