Advanced Labelling Systems Ltd (ALS) is one of the latest group of successful companies to join a leading edge scheme, designed to help industry improve its safety record.
Employing 30 people, ALS is principally involved in the supply of labelling machinery. Having specialised in the Food & Drink, Cosmetic/Personal Care and Pharmaceutical industries since 1997, ALS’s most recent clients have included major players such as Premier Foods, Fine Lady Bakeries, Coty, Whyte & Mackay, British Sugar, Boots, Reckitt Benkiser and Smith & Nephew.
The company’s application for SAFEcontractor accreditation was driven by the need for a uniform standard across the business.
ALS Managing Director, Phil Donaldson, explains why it was beneficial; “Right from day one, ALS has always treated health & safety very seriously and with the utmost importance. Indeed, our installation and service engineers are regularly praised by customers for their professional conduct whilst working on their premises. However, for new customers, who have a duty to comply with legislation, before we are permitted to install our labelling machinery on their sites, we must prove each time that we are a company that correctly follows all the rules and guidelines. This has resulted in an ever increasing amount of form-filling, risk assessments, customer audits, copying of various compliance certificates, insurance documents and the like – to the point where it was becoming silly. We were having to replicate our efforts over and over again. Everyone wanted the same information and assurances but often in a different format or style. Now, by using the SAFEcontractor scheme, our new customers know that we fulfil all those requirements and have a strong commitment to safety, while our existing customers will recognise that those standards are being maintained year on year – it is a win-win situation.”
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.
SAFEcontractor is applicable to most sectors although it is particularly relevant to food manufacture, 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 ALS has done. The firm’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.safecontractor.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 nation-wide 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.
For further information contact:
Janet Wilson, PA to Managing Director
Advanced Labelling Systems Ltd (ALS)
01844 213177
Note to editors:
SafeContractor is a third party accreditation scheme that assesses health and safety arrangements. Many major clients recognise the scheme and accept the SafeContractor certificate as confirmation of competency. You only need to be assessed once and not by every client and prospect.
For further information about the SafeContractor Scheme, contact:
Tammy Meredith
SAFEcontractor
marketing@safecontractor.co.uk
029 2026 6750
