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Another Top Accreditation for Avon Barrier Company Ltd

Avon Barrier Company has successfully added SAFEcontractor to the list of its accreditations, a leading edge scheme designed to help industry improve its safety record.

The Bristol based firm received accreditation from SAFEcontractor, a programme which recognises very high standards of health and safety practise amongst UK contractors.

Employing 75 people, Avon Barrier Company is principally involved in hostile vehicle mitigation solutions, specialising in high security vehicle access control systems including road blockers, bollards, barriers and gates, their products protect critical infrastructure & iconic buildings, such as embassies, government buildings, military establishments, airports/ports, banks, oil/petrochemical plants, stadiums and shopping malls.

Managing Director of Avon Barrier Company, Paul Jeffrey was pleased to receive this accreditation. "Our company has always focused on providing a high quality service to all of our customers. The accreditation demonstrates again that the systems and processes we have adopted assure very high levels of health and safety, highlighting our commitment and dedication to promoting a safe working environment".

SAFEcontractor accreditation is expected to further enhance the company’s ability to attract new contracts and its continual 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 the construction industry, 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 Avon Barrier Company 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.