Newport-based K9 Protection has been awarded accreditation from Safecontractor for its commitment to achieving excellence in health and safety.

Safecontractor is a leading third party accreditation scheme which recognises very high standards in health and safety management amongst UK contractors.

Employing 15 people, K9 Protection is principally involved in the provision of security guarding and K9 patrol solutions, specialising in the construction and cable protection industries and with a steadily increasing turnover.

K9 Protection’s most recent clients have included SPIE Matthew Hall and Rhondda Cynon Taff CBC.

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

Paul Green, operations manager, K9 Protection Ltd, which is based at Enterprise Way, Newport, said: “Health and safety is something we’ve taken seriously since setting the company up, and it’s great to be able to be part of a scheme that formally recognises our efforts.”

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 contracted services.

John Kinge, technical director of Safecontractor said: "Organisations simply cannot afford to run the risk of employing contractors who are not able to prove 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 K9 Protection 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.”