Virtua UK Ltd, a leading Swindon based supplier of expertise to the telecoms industry has been taking extraordinary steps in their health and safety practices that go far beyond the usual requirement of a company of their size.
Andy Watts, chief executive of Virtua comments: “For us people are our most important asset. As a telecoms company some of our staff do work in risk prone areas and we want to ensure that we take all measures to keep them safe. We don’t want health and safety to be just text book rules but want to incorporate it into our daily work culture. This ensures everyone is aware of H&S requirements and has the resources and training necessary to not just deal with accidents but avoid them in the first place.”
The company is investing heavily in their staff health and safety by providing training and facilities that would be seen by many as radical steps, particularly in a company of less than 200 staff. Some of the unusual steps taken by Virtua are as follows: • The company has recently trained six members of staff in first aid, with plans to train others who show an interest in the subject. • Virtua is sending its entire management team for IOSH training, which is a chartered body for health and safety professionals.
In addition to the above, the company has set up an in–house triathlon club to encourage employees to take up sports and maintain a healthy life style. The club currently includes eleven staff members, including all three directors. Andy Watts comments further on this: “Health and safety is about the well being of our employees wherever they are, which is why we are also encouraging them to maintain good health through sporting activities. We even have a leader board in the office for times on the local measured 10 mile time trial route! Above all we are focused on transforming health and safety from mere guidelines to part of Virtua’s work ethos.”