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Building Industry Health and Safety
News Release from: EHS Projects | Subject: Environmental, health and safety policies
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 16 September 2004
UK Companies Loose Out On Environmental
Change
EHS Projects Ltd warns that UK companies, whose environmental performance is not up to new EC standards, are set to feel the heat this year with the potential threat of fines and loss of business.
UK companies, whose environmental performance is not up to new EC standards, are set to feel the heat this year with the potential threat of fines and loss of business, warns EHS Projects Ltd, one of the UK's leading environmental health and safety specialist services In a concerted bid to help businesses best prepare for the new regulations, EHS is encouraging UK companies to seek specialist advice to ensure their environmental, health and safety policies are up to standard before it's too late
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 16 Sep 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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Any company that doesn't comply will be hit with a hefty fine and could face the risk of being taken off suppliers' lists.
In fact, with the reluctance of UK organisations to become certified to ISO 14001 the international standard for Environmental Management Systems, EHS is certain that more and more over-seas companies will begin to look outside the UK for key suppliers.
Recent figures show that only around 2,000 UK businesses are using ISO14001 certified Environmental Management Systems.
Andy Taylor, Operations Manager at EHS Projects, comments: "It is widely recognised that companies with formal management systems perform better and benefit financially through savings made and contracts won.
Through our experience we have seen too many companies who have been on the brink of, or who have actually lost contracts because their environmental performance was not up to scratch.
This may seem rather harsh, but more and more blue chip companies are looking to improve the energy efficiency of their supply chain and a key factor of implementing this is to look at the environmental credentials of their suppliers.
British companies wanting to trade with companies from these areas need to think about how they can demonstrate their environmental credentials to potential clients." As a worldwide ripple effect for environmentally friendly supply chains gathers speed, EHS Projects is advising businesses to act now, as in the case of Reiter Automotive (GB) Ltd, a well-established company within the automotive and general industrial product finishing markets who risked being taking off the supply chain of one of their biggest clients, Toyota.
Over the past year Reiter has been working with EHS, one of the UK's leading environmental health and safety specialist service, to achieve ISO 14001.
Duncan Chappell, Health, Safety and Environmental Manager at Reiter Automotive comments: "Like most busy businesses the environmental message is one of many competing for attention.
However, we recognised that the issue deserved to be noticed and through the help of EHS we have been able to implement a number of key improvements that have and will go straight to our bottom line." Andy Taylor concludes: "Implementing ISO 14001 is crucial for the ongoing success of businesses.
Not only as it decreased the risk of Government fines, but also because it offers practical ways in which organisations can benefit the environment and their own bottom line.
While helping to attract and secure new contacts, it also helps to boost profitability by enhancing energy efficiency and reducing the cost of waste.
It really is a win-win situation.".
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