BURY ST EDMUNDS: East Anglian building supplies and glass contracting company Kent Blaxill is one of the latest companies to be accepted by a national scheme designed to help raise industry safety standards.
The independent Colchester headquartered firm recently received accreditation from SAFEcontractor, a programme which recognises high standards of health and safety practice among UK contractors.
Kent Blaxill employs 219 people at its eight building, decorating and glass centres around the region, together with a glazing contracting section based at its headquarters in Colchester. SAFEcontractor status guarantees uniform standards across the company.
David Plowman, Kent Blaxill human resources manager, said: “Kent Blaxill is continually looking at ways of raising standards. SAFEcontractor accreditation gives a guarantee of the levels we are achieving.”
Under the SAFEcontractor system, businesses undergo a vetting process, which examines health and safety procedures and their track record for safety practice. Companies meeting the high standard are included on a database which is accessible to registered users only via a website.
Darran Hughes, operations director for SAFEcontractor, said: “Major operations can no longer run the risk of employing glazing contactors who are not able to prove that they have sound health and safety policies.”
Kent Blaxill has also signed up to the Buy With Confidence scheme run by Essex County Council’s Trading Standards Service.
