Updating its health and safety procedures has earned Swindon joinery, shopfitting and construction firm Edmont a place on the shortlist for a prestigious national woodworking award.
The firm, which was set up as a small local business in Swindon in 1972 and now employs more than 100 people, is competing in the Health and Safety Hero category of the British Woodworking Federation’s (BWF) Annual Woodworking Awards. 
Edmont implemented a complete update of its health and safety programme last year as part a £1m expansion of its on-site workshop.
The new programme included accessible health and safety training for all staff, face fit testing for all staff required to wear masks, an update to the lighting systems in the workshop to ‘natural daylight’ LED lighting for better comfort, a new bespoke extraction and air supply system and new walkways, as well as the creation of a new loading station.
These have helped the firm create an excellence in standards that has now been recognised by the BWF, the leading industry federation, as part of its national awards.
Joinery director Melanie Fyans said: “When we created our new workshop space, we saw a great opportunity to enhance health and safety not just for staff but any suppliers or visitors to our workshop and our premises.
“We have always prided ourselves on having highest standards of health and safety, so when we expanded, we reviewed and updated everything to make sure we were going above and beyond the usual industry standards.
“We are delighted that this has been recognised by such a well-respected body as the BWF and we are very proud of the health and safety team, the workshop team and everyone involved in implementing this initiative.”
Edmont produces quality joinery as well as providing retail fit-out and construction services from its Stratton head office and workshop.
The BW Annual Woodworking Awards take place at the Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham on October 4.
