Press Release

2nd June 2009

Top Safety Accreditation for Solent Scale Services

Weighing specialist Solent Scale Services has achieved an important health & safety accreditation from SAFEcontractor, a programme which recognises very high standards of health and safety practice amongst UK contractors. The Hampshire-based firm were subject to a strict auditing process for all their health and safety procedures and passed each one, demonstrating their high standards and commitment to safety throughout the company.

Solent Scale Services are primarily involved in the weighing industry and supply, service, repair and calibrate the likes of weighbridges and industrial weighing scales from a wide variety of manufacturers .

The company's application for SAFEcontractor accreditation was driven by the need for a uniform standard across the business. Managing director of Solent Scale Services, David Ayling is proud to achieve this standard. "Our company is focused on providing a high quality service to all of our customers. A number of incredibly thorough audits were carried out and at the end of this we were able to demonstrate that we achieve very high levels of health and safety. This highlights our commitment and dedication to promoting a safe working environment".

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 centres, 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 Solent Scale Services 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 that 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 a 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.

Hampshire-based Solent Scale Services specialises in providing, servicing, repairing and calibrating industrial weighing equipment. Its products range from vehicle weighing (weighpads) to laboratory equipment to food manufacturing weighing to medical scales used in NHS maternity units! They are accredited to ISO9001:2000 and are members of the UK Weighing Federation.