Contractor Safety Requirements

In the construction industry, effective risk management strategies are crucial to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and promote a safe working environment. Here are some key risk management strategies, particularly focused on workplace safety, for the construction industry: ✅ Comprehensive Safety Policies and Procedures Develop and implement comprehensive safety policies and procedures that address potential hazards specific to construction activities. ✅ Employee Training and Awareness Conduct regular safety training programs for all employees, emphasizing the importance of adhering to safety protocols and recognising potential risks. ✅ Job Hazard Analysis Perform Job Hazard Analyses for each construction task to identify and assess potential risks associated with specific job activities. ✅ Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Mandate the use of appropriate personal protective equipment for all workers. Regularly inspect and maintain PPE, and ensure that employees are trained on the correct usage and care of their equipment. ✅ Regular Equipment Inspections Establish a routine inspection schedule for construction equipment and tools. ✅ Emergency Response and Evacuation Plans Develop and communicate clear emergency response and evacuation plans. Conduct regular drills to ensure that all employees are familiar with the procedures in the event of an emergency. ✅ Regulatory Compliance Audits Conduct regular audits to assess compliance with local, state, and federal safety regulations. Identify any gaps in compliance and take corrective actions to mitigate risks and maintain regulatory adherence. ✅ Subcontractor Oversight Extend safety management practices to subcontractors by implementing stringent safety requirements in contracts. Regularly assess subcontractors' safety programs and performance to ensure alignment with industry standards. ✅ Incident Reporting and Investigation Establish a clear and accessible process for reporting incidents and near misses. Investigate each incident thoroughly to understand root causes and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence. ✅ Health and Wellness Programs Implement health and wellness programs to support the overall well-being of employees. This includes promoting healthy lifestyles, providing access to medical services, and addressing issues related to mental health and fatigue. ✅ Use of Technology Leverage technology, such as wearables, sensors, and monitoring systems, to enhance safety on construction sites. These tools can provide real-time data allowing for quick responses to potential risks. By integrating these risk management strategies into daily operations, construction companies can not only ensure compliance with safety regulations but also create a safer work environment, reduce accidents, and protect the well-being of their workforce. #compliancelab #compliance #construction

Many employers believe that if a contractor is performing work on-site, they have no liability and no obligations under OSHA. However, this is not true. Employers (host employers) still have responsibilities, especially when it comes to confined spaces. According to OSHA’s standard 1910.146(c)(8), if a host employer arranges for a contractor to perform work involving permit space entry, they must: - Inform the contractor about the presence of permit spaces and the need for compliance with a permit space program. - Share information about the hazards and host employer's experience with the space. - Explain any precautions or procedures implemented for the protection of employees near permit spaces. - Coordinate entry operations if both host employer and contractor personnel will be working in or near the space. - Debrief the contractor at the conclusion of the work regarding the permit space program and any hazards encountered.

Contractor management is one of the most important areas of health and safety, yet it’s one of the least discussed. The reality is that contractors are often an organisation’s biggest risk. You’re introducing an unknown factor into an environment that’s already high risk. If you don’t have the right approach, you’re gambling with outcomes you can’t afford. 𝗔𝗻 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀: 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 – but done properly. Templates alone won’t cut it. Prequalification must be weighted against the actual risk profile of the work being done. 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 – everyone needs to know who is responsible for what. Risk ownership must be established up front. 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 – you can’t just assume contractors are delivering to the standards agreed. You need a robust system of ongoing checks. 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 – trust, but verify. What gets checked gets managed. 𝗔 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀:   1. Don’t recycle generic prequalification forms. Adjust them to fit the scope and the risks.   2. Put a strong monitoring regime in place and keep it active for the life of the contract.   3. Use contractual clauses that enforce agreed safety standards and don’t shy away from penalties where performance falls short. Contractor management isn't just paperwork. It’s about protecting people, projects and reputations. Treat it as seriously as any other high-risk exposure. #contractors

A reminder that all contractors are not the same and how contractor safety is managed must differ to reflect the different relationships we have with them. A recent prosecution has highlighted the very different obligations owed to different categories of contractors. Big Bell Gold has been fined $400K for failing to ensure adequate induction and the training of a "contract" worker. On reading of the case it is clear the contractor was a worker who was engaged to undertake work under the control and supervision of Big Bell Gold. The worker was supplied with a shovel and required to remove material from a running conveyor at the Big Bell plant. The workers were supervised by a Big Bell Supervisor. All this points to the "contractor" being labour hire/ integrated labour. Where this is the case the Principal Contractor has 100% control over the task and hence the risk and must ensure these contractors are provided with a safe systems of work and adequate training to keep them safe. Sue Always consider the category of contractor you are using and the degree of control you have over their work and the risks arising from that work to ensure you have the right safety arrangements in place. Sue