OHS continues success story with acquisition in construction sector

HEALTH and safety specialist OHS has bought Fieldside Health and Safety Management for an undisclosed seven-figure sum.

Leeds-based OHS said the acquisition of Fieldside would expand its operations into the construction industry.

Fieldside specialises in supplying construction companies of all sizes with health and safety advice, particularly for workmen operating at big heights. A large proportion of its clients come through the National Federation of Roofing.

OHS will keep on the six staff who work at Fieldside's Doncaster base.

The acquisition follows a year of substantial growth for OHS and the company is planning further increases this year through the expansion of all departments and the introduction of new service streams.

Yesterday the group opened its new OHS London office in the heart of the city.

As the Health and Safety Executive steps up its campaign to make the workplace a safer and healthier environment in 2010, OHS has introduced a new "Worksafe – Homesafe – Safe in the Knowledge" management solution package.

The package is designed to help companies achieve accreditations and potentially improve profits as fewer employees succumb to accidents.

OHS said that the most common accident problem at work is still the so-called "slips, trips and falls".

Accreditations such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 show that companies can deliver a quality service and are usually required when companies tender for major contracts with public bodies or larger companies.

At the end of last year OHS won the contract to provide Leeds-based Asda's health and safety needs.

OHS will provide support services to Asda stores across the UK and it will work in direct partnership with Asda on making sure the stores are an "incident and injury free environment".

Other clients include United Utilities, The Co-operative Group, Land Securities, Doncaster National Health Trust, Rank, Cadbury, BP, Northamptonshire National Health Trust, Sainsbury's and North Somerset Council.

OHS managing director John Horsfall said: "We have collected tenders from National Health Trusts and other large public bodies who we are partnering in a charter to manage asbestos in every school and public building throughout the country.

"There is no doubt that 2009 will go down as one of the best years OHS has experienced."

The group has developed working partnerships with international law firms and property consultancy groups.

It has also become the health, safety and environmental management company recommended to members of the Chamber of Commerce and The Association of Landlords.

It is now in the process of setting up a service specifically aimed at the tourism and leisure industry.

"To achieve all of this we have had to substantially grow the company in every department, recruiting almost thirty new highly qualified and experienced staff," said Mr Horsfall. "In 2009 we opened new offices in the heart of Leeds and in Nottingham, and most recently in the City of London's financial quarter."