AVC Media Enterprises is one of the latest group of successful companies to join a leading edge scheme, designed to help industry improve its safety record.

The Aberdeen-based firm recently received accreditation from SAFEcontractor, a programme which recognises very high standards of health and safety practice amongst UK contractors.

Employing 88 people at its Aberdeen headquarters, the accreditation mostly applies to AVC’s audiovisual and media teams, involved in the installation of audiovisual equipment in company premises as well as offshore, the management and technical support of events across the UK and the filming of corporate material both on and offshore.

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

Graeme McGuire, Audiovisual Manager and Health and Safety Officer at AVC comments:

“We are delighted to have received accreditation again this year and proud to work on SAFEcontractor’s principles to ensure our Health and Safety provision is exceptional.

“Working across all industry sectors and particularly in the field of oil and gas, we’ve always respected the Health and Safety requirements of our clients and worked hard to ensure that safe environments are common place and constantly maintained.

“As one of the only suppliers in the field of AV and Media to have achieved this accreditation, it is something to be very proud of and a great achievement.”

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 operated by international safety, health and environmental risk management specialists, the National Britannia Group. The system 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 for SAFEcontractor at National Britannia 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 AVC has done. The firms’ high standard has set an example, which will hopefully 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 the high standard are included on a database, which is accessible to registered users only via the website: http://www.safecontractor.com

Employer organisations that 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 100 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.