Safety accreditation for ACS

Newmarket-based ACS has recently received accreditation from SAFEcontractor, a programme which recognises high standards of heath and safety practise amongst UK contractors.

Employing over 350 people, ACS is involved in all areas of the contract cleaning market. Specialising in bio-tech, food and university contracts and with a £3.4 million turnover, ACS’s most recent clients have included Newmarket Racecourses.

The company’s application for SAFEcontractor accreditation was driven by the need for a uniform standard across the business. “I am delighted that ACS’s commitment to health and safety has once again been recognised,” said Chris Broadley, managing director ACS. “ACS takes its responsibility for the protection and well being of all its staff and contractors seriously and we understand that in a modern environment health and safety is not something that any company should simply treat as an inconvenience.”

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 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 ACS has done. The firm’s high standard has set an example, which hopefully will be followed by other companies within this 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 the database, which is accessible to registered users only via a website: www.safecontractor.com.

Over 120 nationwide 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.

www.advancedcleaningservices.co.uk