Hauliers not required to join AB Agri SafeContractor accreditation scheme

The RHA has welcomed the decision by agricultural and food giant AB Agri not to require hauliers to join the SafeContractor accreditation scheme.

The body was concerned hauliers were being held to ransom, with further work dependent on signing up to the scheme which requires firms to pay to be assessed against a list of health and safety requirements, and face two audits before qualifying.

Read more

• RHA objects to AB Agri plans to force operators to join SafeContractor accreditation scheme

“It’s good to see AB Agri making this clear," said RHA MD of policy and public affairs, Rod McKenzie. "Operators were worried about being bullied into joining another non statutory safety body under a threat of losing work. We welcome this clarification and stress we are all committed to safety and best practice but further schemes beyond the credible Earned Recognition scheme are not the way to go: hauliers are facing enough costs with Covid and Brexit without adding to their already hefty bill.”