"I'm hugely proud of what we've achieved with VISION"
“VISION has automated our processes extensively, with the manpower and personal intervention we previously had to deploy to stay on top of everything, now re-deployable elsewhere in the business.”
“I’m hugely proud of what we’ve achieved with VISION. The comprehensiveness of the software is testament to VISION’s expertise in health and safety; and their responsiveness to our unique requirements has been second to none.
I now feel confident, going into any kind of audit environment, that I can evidence everything we need to ensure compliance, and I look forward to feedback that allows us to set the bar for best practice yet higher.” - Holly Marles, Compliance Manager, Curio Water.
Curio Water, a leading engineering firm specialising in the maintenance and service of ozone equipment and facilities for the UK’s water utilities, is committed to maintaining the highest standards of health and safety. As the exclusive distributor for Veolia in the UK, Curio collaborates with some of the major utilities, including Yorkshire Water, Anglian Water, and Northumbrian Water. The company is also pioneering technological innovation, having recently designed and delivered Yorkshire Waters’ new Ozone M Class Ozone generation system.
The importance of compliance with health and safety regulations, particularly ISO 45001, the international standard for managing occupational health and safety (OH&S), cannot be overstated in this industry, where safety is paramount. With over 60 years’ direct, practical experience, Curio’s management and engineering teams understand the need for stringent safety measures to protect engineers working around potentially hazardous substances like ozone and oxygen. To uphold these standards, Curio has recently made significant investments in its training and compliance processes, ensuring that its engineers are well-equipped to manage risks and maintain safety protocols with the implementation of the VISION health and safety platform.
The Challenge: Managing Complex Health & Safety Standards
In the UK, health and safety requirements for the water industry are governed by a well recognised combination of legislation, industry standards, and best practices. These include the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, and Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016, all of which outline general duties regarding the health, safety, and welfare of employees and others affected by their activities, including those working on behalf of water utilities within the supply chain.
Alongside these legislative requirements, the industry demands detailed and regular risk assessments required to identify hazards, assess risks, and implement control measures. This includes both operational risks (e.g., working with chemicals) and environmental risks (e.g., flooding). Employers, suppliers and staff must provide, receive and be able to demonstrate training specific to their roles, including safety procedures, emergency response, and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), with ongoing training and refresher courses essential to maintain competencies. Reporting and investigation is also critical, with companies’ ability to demonstrate their audit, reporting and investigatory procedures such as ISO 45001 fundamental to working within the industry.
“Maintaining health and safety in the water industry is a multi-faceted effort that requires compliance with legal frameworks, proactive risk management, training, and a commitment to continuous improvement,” says Holly Marles, Compliance Manager, Curio Water.
“It’s an ethos that sits at the core of our organisation. Health and safety standards are not just there for audit and compliance purposes – though these are of course key; we see them as part of an essential culture of safety and awareness among all employees.”
The Solution: Implementing VISION Software
Faced with the limitations of traditional compliance management methods—primarily reliant on spreadsheets, calendar reminders and manual processes—Curio recognised the need for a more efficient solution to manage its myriad compliance requirements, which included not only its engineers' accreditations and policy documentation, but also equipment that needs to be calibrated and certified and its vehicle fleet.
With the guidance of its health and safety consulting partner, C&C Consulting, the company was introduced to VISION, a comprehensive platform designed specifically for health and safety compliance.
Curio began implementing VISION in 2022 by integrating it within the company’s existing workflows and reporting templates, prioritising ‘quick win’ modules that could provide immediate benefits, such as Accident & Incident Reporting and ‘Toolbox Talks’. VISION’s Toolbox Talks is a library of essential refresher modules on a range of health and safety topics, which allows Curio to ensure its engineers remain equipped with the knowledge they need to carry out their work in a safe and compliant way.
With 91 pre-existing talks available, on matters from asbestos awareness, manual handling ,environmental training and electrical safety awareness - as well as the ability for Curio to create tailored sessions based on its client requests (e.g. RIDDOR), the software streamlines training and ensures that all team members are engaged and informed – with the audit trail integrated within VISION’s health and safety reporting templates.
Curio then expanded the implementation of VISION to facilitate the management of its critical compliance documents, such as its Risk Assessments and Method Statements (RAMS), which it has to provide to its clients ahead of undertaking any work on site. By transitioning these documents - which detail method statements, risk and COSHH assessments and risk mitigation, amongst others - from Word to a centralised digital platform, Curio has enhanced its ability to manage, review, and store compliance materials efficiently.
Benefits: Streamlining Compliance and Enhancing Safety Culture
In the last 18 months, the implementation of VISION has yielded substantial benefits for Curio, fundamentally transforming its health and safety compliance processes. One of the most notable advantages is the improved efficiency in documentation and reporting. Curio’s engineers and management team now have access to a user-friendly interface where they can easily upload and view weekly reports, access training materials, and manage critical compliance documents in real-time, all while maintaining a clear audit trail.
Client feedback has also been overwhelmingly positive. Curio has received praise for the quality of its RAMS documents, which are now exemplary in their coherence and comprehensiveness, leading to first-time approvals from clients. This efficiency in documentation has significantly reduced the time spent on revisions and resubmissions, allowing Curio to focus more on service delivery and client relationships.
Additionally, the system's ability to provide live data and easy access has transformed the way engineers interact with compliance protocols. The real-time access to critical safety information and alerts fosters a culture of safety and accountability, ensuring that all staff members are well-informed and engaged in health and safety practices.
Overall, VISION has become an integral part of Curio's operations, supporting their compliance with ISO 45001 and other industry standards - enhancing the overall safety culture within the organisation. As a result, Curio Water is not only meeting regulatory requirements but is setting a benchmark for health and safety excellence in the water utilities sector.