Horizon Platforms has become the first privately-owned, independent powered access specialist in the UK to achieve three key ISO accreditations – ISO9001 Quality Management Systems, ISO14001 Environmental Management Standard and OHSAS18001 Occupational Health and Safety.
As an IPAF Rental+ accredited business for the last two years, the company already had strict quality controls in place. However, to achieve the new ISO standards the Horizon team extended its IPAF systems to encompass health, safety and environmental responsibilities too – combining everything into a single set of company procedures.
The auditors were impressed with the fact that Horizon had made a significant commitment to emissions reduction within its transport department by investing in the very latest Volvo FM 8-wheel delivery trucks – all of which achieve the Euro 5 exhaust emissions standards.
Customer feedback also came under the spotlight. Horizon has introduced a more structured way to receive customer comments on its overall performance and response as a business. This feedback is then used to make continual improvements throughout the organisation, which is the whole ethos behind ISO accreditation.
Another area in which Horizon has worked particularly hard is waste management. The company now has a strict recycling policy integrated through every area of the business and is already seeing cost savings filtering through as a result.
Horizon’s joint managing director Ben Hirst, said:
“This has been an interesting, challenging and rewarding process during which we have learned a lot about ourselves as a business and where we would like to take the company in the future. We are proud to have efficient and effective monitoring procedures in place that allow us to continually improve the quality of our products and services, reduce any negative impact on the environment and maintain our exemplary health and safety record.
“I’d like to thank everyone at Horizon Platforms for the hard work they have put in – both now and in previous years – to maintain our levels of professionalism and commitment to excellence, ensuring we were able to meet the high levels demanded by the ISO auditors.
“ISO standards are becoming a key consideration for many large organisations. They need to be confident that they are working with suppliers who highlight quality, environmental awareness and health and safety as a top priority. Now we have the independent endorsement to prove we do precisely that.”
