Heald Limited is one of the latest groups of successful companies to join a leading edge scheme, designed to help the industry improve its safety record.

The Hornsea-based firm recently received accreditation from SAFEcontractor, a programme which recognises very high standards of health and safety practice amongst UK contractors.

Specialising in High Security Roadblockers, Heald’s most recent clients have included major players such as Bovis Lend Lease, Carillion, Norwest Holst and Volker Stevin.

The company’s application for SAFEcontractor accreditation was driven by the need for a uniform standard across the business.

“SAFEcontractor accreditation gives our customers piece of mind. They have the assurance that they are dealing with a quality company which has gained this accreditation by maintaining excellent Health & Safety practices and procedures which are second to none” said Debbie Heald, Company MD.

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.

Darran Hughes: Operations Director of 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 Heald has done. The firms’ 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, 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.