Ark Workplace Risk ™

How to really select and approve contractors safely

Work undertaken by a contractor is usually covered by a civil contract. It is good practice for health & safety requirements to be written in to such a contract.

You can’t contract your way out of H&S responsibility

However, health & safety responsibilities are defined by the criminal law and cannot be passed on from one party to another by a contract.
In any client/contractor relationship, both parties will have duties under health & safety law. Similarly, if the contractor employs sub-contractors to carry out some or all of the work, all parties will have some health & safety responsibilities. The extent of the responsibilities of each party will depend on the circumstances.

Managing the contractor approval process

Ark can help you by managing your approval process for contractors. Ark will use the guidance provided by the HSE and your own procedures to undertake any approval, considering:

• Identifying the key activities: you’ll get our assistance in clearly identifying all aspects of the work you want the contractor to undertake, including work falling within the preparation and completion phases.
  
  The level of risk will depend on the nature of the job. Whatever the risk, you need to consider the health & safety implications of the job they want done. This will involve selecting someone suitable to do the job, assessing the risks, deciding what information, instruction and training is required, how co-operation and co-ordination between all parties is achieved, how the workforce is to be consulted and the level of management and supervision required.
• Selecting a suitable contractor: your need to satisfy yourself that contractors are competent (i.e. they have sufficient skills and knowledge) to do the job safely and without risks to health & safety.
  
  The degree of competence required will depend on the work to be done. Ark will make sure that contractors know and understand what performance you expect. We will explain your health & safety arrangements to them, show them your procedures, permit systems, health & safety policy statement and make sure they understand and will act in accordance with it.
• Select a suitable sub-contractor: the selection of any sub-contractors is probably best left to the contractor. You though must, satisfy yourself that a contractor has an effective procedure for appraising the competence of a sub-contractor.
  
  Where a contractor wishes to use a subcontractor, we’ll assess the work activity to be undertaken and ensure that, as with any contractor, appropriate competence can be shown to undertake such work activity safely.
• Provide information, instruction and training: Clients, contractors and sub-contractors must provide their employees with information, instruction and training on anything which may affect their health & safety.
  
  Ark will ensure that all parties consider what information should be passed between them and agree appropriate ways to make sure this is done. Ark will ensure that clear information about the risks arising from the operations, including any relevant safety rules and procedures, and procedures for dealing with emergencies are communicated.

Safer with Ark

To explore how you can use Ark to become much safer with your contractors, just use the form below or call Jody Horne on +44 (0) 20 7397 1450.