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

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

Employing 22 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 major players such as SPIE Matthew Hall and Rhondda Cynon Taff CBC, along with many steel-works, reopening as the industry steadily returns to the region.

The company’s application for Safecontractor accreditation was driven by the need for a uniform standard across the business, and to achieve a straightforward pass for their second year despite the evolution within the company is a massive accomplishment.

Paul Green, operations manager, K9 Protection Ltd, which is based at Enterprise Way, said: “Safety has always been at the forefront of what we do at K9 Protection, and for us to achieve this prestigious qualification for a second year running is no mean feat. It shows we’re getting it right, and it shows that everyone from myself down takes safety extremely seriously.”

Continued Safecontractor accreditation will further 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 sectors, all of which are big users of contracted services.

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 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, whilst working with their contractors as they progress through the accreditation process.”