International business Extract Technology has been awarded accreditation from Safecontractor for its commitment to achieving excellence in health and safety. Safecontractor is a leading third party accreditation scheme that recognises very high standards in health and safety management among UK companies.
Employing 65 people in Huddersfield in the UK, Extract Technology is principally involved in the life science sector, specialising in containment and aseptic solutions for the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Extract Technology's most recent clients have included major players such as GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, TEVA and Sandoz.
The company’s application for Safecontractor accreditation was driven by the need for a uniform standard across the business.
'I would like to thank all those involved for their hard work in helping to achieve the standard,' said General Manager Alan Wainwright. 'To gain accreditation to the scheme is another important achievement for our business and clearly demonstrates our commitment to health and safety within our organisation.
'Safecontractor accreditation not only supports our overall health and safety management practices but will enhance the company's ability to attract new contracts.'
Safecontractor is applicable to most sectors, although it is particularly relevant to food manufacture, property, facilities management, retail and leisure sectors. John Kinge, technical director of Safecontractor, said: 'Major organisations simply cannot afford to run the risk of employing contractors who are not able to prove that they have sound health and safety policies in place.
'More companies need to understand the importance of adopting good risk management in the way that Extract Technology has done. The firm's high standard has set an example which hopefully will be followed by other companies within the sector. Safecontractor plays a vital role in supporting our clients in meeting their compliance needs, while working with their contractors as they progress through the accreditation process.'
Under the Safecontractor scheme, businesses undergo a vetting process that 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. Client-organisations who sign up to the scheme can access the database, enabling them to audit potential contractors before they attend site. These clients agree that, as users of the scheme, they will engage only those who have received accreditation.
More than 210 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.