Top Safety Accreditation for BEC Systems Integration Ltd

BEC (Systems Integration) 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 Lancashire-based firm recently received accreditation from SAFEcontractor, a programme which recognises very high standards of health and safety practise amongst UK contractors.

BEC is principally involved in the provision of Automated Data Capture and Identification (AIDC) solutions for the Supply Chain. The company advises, designs and deploys data capture solutions that integrate seamlessly into host business systems. Their access to a range of data collection technologies enables each solution to be tailored to clients’ requirements, helping supply chain companies to increase productivity, efficiency and profitability.

Specialising in the manufacturing, engineering and food & beverage industries, BEC’s most recent clients have included major players such as Sellafield Fire and Rescue and Kerrygold.

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

Tony Hampson, Operations Director at BEC commented, "We are delighted to receive the SAFEcontractor certification. The accreditation demonstrates our compliance with current health and safety legislation. It shows BEC’s ongoing commitment to operating safely, for the benefit of our employees, clients and general public." He continued, "The accreditation is recognised as a stamp of approval amongst SAFEcontractor members. It reduces risk to clients by ensuring contractors pass strict health and safety controls, and illustrates our consistent upholding of health and safety activities."

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.

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 BEC 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 scheme, 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.