Press Release from FORS (Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme)
Bristol-based Bateman Skips is putting road safety and efficiency first, as it is awarded Bronze accreditation by FORS, the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme.
With a business built on items which others throw away, Bateman Skips is all too aware of its role in ensuring efficient operations. Now, Bateman has proved it puts safe and efficient operating first, as it is awarded a national accreditation for its efforts to improve safety on the roads.
FORS is a voluntary accreditation scheme, open to any company operating commercial vehicles, based in the UK or overseas. Its aim is to drive higher standards in the road transport industry, with FORS members required to evidence, and improve upon, safety, efficiency and environmental protection across their business.
FORS is progressive, and encourages its members to train staff and self-improve from entry-level Bronze accreditation, to Silver, and onwards through to Gold. Bateman Skips was recently awarded FORS Bronze accreditation, the first stage in the process.
Bateman Skips runs a fleet of 18 skip trucks, tippers, hook lorries and grab trucks, spending most of its time delivering skips to homes across Avon. As the majority of deliveries take place in Bristol and Bath, its work requires precision operations in busy urban areas, making safety a top priority.
The company started as one man with a skip in the 1970s, growing to employ more than 40 staff. It became a FORS member as part of its aim to raise operating standards across its fleet, a task taken up by General Manager, Lee Graham.
He commented, “We are a really busy fleet, and run a waste transfer station where we recycle 95 per cent of the materials we collect. The nature of the work we do makes safety key, but some of our operating procedures needed updating, so we were keen to become FORS accredited to give us the tools we needed to improve.”
Bateman Skips recently passed its FORS Bronze audit and plans to continue its progression through the scheme to raise standards even further, setting its sights on FORS Silver and then ideally, FORS Gold.
Lee Graham continued, “Staff safety, and the safety of other road users is paramount. FORS has given us the peace of mind that comes with knowing we have the right policies and procedures in place to be as safe as possible. We are determined to go for FORS Gold.”
“We have a whole new way of working, including setting driver standards with training, and measuring how we use fuel efficiently, to be as environmentally responsible and effective as we can while making savings to our bottom line.
“We have come a long way and are thrilled to have reached FORS Bronze which is thanks to the hard work of the whole team. FORS is a great benchmark to give our customers confidence that we are operating as efficiently and safely as possible.”
Anne Johnson, FORS Operations Director said: “Congratulations to Lee and the team at Bateman Skips for gaining FORS Bronze accreditation. Becoming FORS members show commitment and a desire to change working practices and put safety first. The whole team should be proud of its success.”