Webbs Support Services is one of the latest groups of successful companies to join a leading edge scheme, designed to help industry improve its safety record.
The Littleborough based firm recently received accreditation from SAFEcontractor, a programme which recognises very high standards of health and safety practise amongst UK contractors.
Employing 25 people, Webbs Support Services is principally involved in the design installation and maintenance of structured cabling solutions. They are specifically focused on addressing its customers' needs for converged, business strength from fixed, mobile, internet and Voice over IP communication solutions.
Specialising in the construction and building service industries and with a £1 million turnover, Webbs Support Services most recent clients have included major players such as Computacenter, the Ministry of Defence and Capita IT Services Ltd.
The company’s application for SAFEcontractor accreditation was driven by the need for a uniform standard across the business, Dave Webb, Managing Director of Webbs Support Services Ltd 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 Webbs Support Services Ltd has done. The firms’ high standard has set an example, which hopefully will be followed by other companies within the sector”
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 is particularly relevant to food manufacture, property, facilities management, retail and leisure sectors, all of which are big users of contract services.
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 standards are included on a database, which is accessible to registered users only via a website,
http://www.safecontractor.com.
Employer-organisations who sign up to the scheme can access the database, which enables 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 twenty 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.