Top Safety Accreditation for Bourne Sports Amenity Ltd
Bourne Amenity Ltd is one of the latest group of successful companies to join a leading edge scheme, designed to help industry improve its safety record.
The Kent-based firm recently received accreditation from SAFEcontractor, a programme which recognises very high standards of health and safety practice amongst UK contractors.
Employing 20 people, Bourne Amenity Ltd is principally involved in the distribution, supply, construction and maintenance contracts of natural and artificial turf for sporting organisations, commercial and community sporting/recreational facilities.
Specialising in working with Local Authorities, Term Maintenance Contractors and Private Sports Clubs and with a £4 million turnover, Bourne Amenity Ltd's most recent clients have included major players such as Kent County Council, West Sussex County Council, Southwark Council, Dulwich College, Tonbridge School, the University of Kent,Sidcup Sports Club, Hastings Football Club and Three Bridges Football Club.
The company's application for SAFEcontractor accreditation was driven by the need for a uniform standard across the business.
Andrew Dennis, Contracts Manager for Bourne Amenity Ltd said; "No contract is ever the same and that applies to the health and safety issues relating to it. To combat this Bourne Amenity Ltd have robust health and safety policies that are underpinned by essential ongoing risk management. We are delighted to achieve this accreditation and to be recognized as a SAFEcontractor."
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 operated by international safety, health and environmental risk management specialists, the National Britannia Group. The system 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.
James Ostler, Managing Director of Information Service at National Britannia 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 Bourne Amenity 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 eighty 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.