Health and safety in the workplace is a concept that’s changed almost beyond recognition over recent years. There was a time in the not-so distant past where if and when an individual had an accident in the workplace, the only expected action taken against the business would be paid time off for recovery…often nothing at all. However, these days it’s a case of the business and the owners thereof being 100% responsible for the health and safety of every employee across the board, with extremely complex law and regulations outlining every last element right down to the finest details.
This is precisely why workplace ventilation, dust extraction and LEV systems have become focal points of interest for UK businesses over recent years as unclean air is the kind of silent killer a business simply cannot afford to risk. The problem with faulty or ineffective LEV systems is the way in which it’s often impossible to detect a problem until two thirds of the workforce falls ill and the business finds itself facing the mother of all legal headaches. Not the ideal scenario for any business owner, but a reality nonetheless for those who choose to overlook the importance of a fully working and efficient LEV system.
All of the above illustrates the abundant importance of proper testing and maintenance when it comes to keeping tabs on LEV systems and general workplace air quality. But with so many providers on the market claiming to offer the very same services, just what should you be on the lookout for when making the decision as to who to go with?
Time in Business
Well, right off the bat, it’s always a good idea to go for a provider that’s been in the industry for quite some time as experience builds competence that really does count for a lot. The longer they’ve been in business and the more jobs they’ve tackled, the higher their likelihood of being able to tackle your own job not only efficiently, but for the lowest price to boot. Some newcomers to the industry may be great, but longer-term experience is always preferred.
Comprehensive Knowledge
Another reassuring sign of a provider of quality comes in the form of how much they’re able to display knowledge of the subject at hand in depth. The site representing the brand should be packed with essential and useful information that goes into detail with regard to what they do, how they do it and why it’s of such importance. The site should never leave you with more questions than answers, so factor in just how well-informed, they appear to be about the subject as a whole.
Clear Terms
It’s generally no necessary or indeed plausible for every business owner to understand the full ins and outs of their respective LEV and ventilation system, or the science behind how and why they do what they do. As such, when it comes to looking for the right provider to add a little technical know-how into the equation, it’s good to choose a service that acknowledges and respects the fact that you might not be up to speed on all the technical stuff. Everything should be explained in clear terms and free of jargon – those that seem to be hell bent on blinding your with science should be avoided.
Reputation
Perhaps the single more important thing to look into before going ahead is the reputation of the provider you are considering doing business with. This matters for the simple reason that all of the promises and claims to fame in the world don’t mean a thing if they are not lived up to when put into practice. It’s easy to blow your own trumpet, but earning the respect and the positive feedback of those that have done business with you before is another thing entirely. So prior to deciding which of the available providers is the one you should go with, take time out to have a look at what’s being said about them by the public on the ground.
Guarantees
And finally, still on the subject of promises it’s worth bearing in mind that there’s a big difference between promising the best service standards or the lowest prices on the UK market and actually backing them with guarantees. It’s generally something of a standard way of doing business these days to put your money where your mouth is in the form of on-paper guarantees, so there’s really no reason to do business with any provider not willing to offer such assurances.