Interacting with contractors
Many food and drink businesses outsource key
facilities functions to outside contractors.
This includes major construction works including premises
refurbishment, new factory buildings and extensions as well as
ongoing maintenance and repair of plant and machinery.
Whose responsibility?
Whilst in the course of their work contractors are responsible
for quality of work and safety arrangements clients also assume
responsibility for ensuring contractors meet these standards.
Indeed a number of legal decisions in criminal courts have
emphasised the role of the client in organising and sharing
responsibility for safe work carried out by contractors.
Responsibilities are also extended by plethora of
construction regulations including:
- Confined Space Regulations 1997
- Construction Design and Management Regulations 2007
- Construction Head Protection Regulations 1989
- The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations
1998
- Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
- Work at Height Regulations 2005.
Risks to business and employees
Contractors not only place themselves at risk of harm
but also introduce hazards that may injure employees and
seriously impact upon business operations such as "hot work"
causing fire.
Contractor management
If work is to be undertaken safely by contractors it is worth
investing time and effort in agreeing beforehand exactly what is to
be done, by whom, and how. Food and drink businesses may
consider:
- Developing preferred list of contractors whom are members of
passport schemes
- Screening contractors with desk top audit of safety
policy and arrangements
- Establishing baseline skills and competence sets
- Applying controls using permit to work procedures
- Checking risk assessment and method statements – These
need to be task specific
- Checking on insurance (Look for heat away and work at height
etc., restrictions/warranties and conditions)
- Auditing works and ensure safe system being employed
etc.
Before contractors commence work it is good practice
to discuss working arrangements, e.g. safe systems of
work. If the work is particularly hazardous such as working
at height, on electrical plant and equipment, in confined spaces,
with heat, or work that requires excavation a task specific
risk assessment and safety method statement should be
required. Issues to consider include:
- Site hazards that may affect the contractor’s work e.g. lift
trucks operations. You should consider demarcating
contractors working areas with barriers and signs
- What machinery and equipment will be used
- What the arrangements for supervision will be. You should
make sure that someone keeps an eye on the contractors and that
they follow their laid down procedures. These includes:
- Method statements
- Use of appropriate PPE and fall protection systems
- Use of trained competent persons
- Permits-to-work systems for higher hazard work e.g. working in
a confined space or the use of heat etc.
- Lock off and plant shut down procedures
- Where overhead and underground power lines run.
It is important to make sure contractor’s employees
understand company rules for safe working, as well as the
hazards and precautions, and that you understand theirs.
Each new employee coming onto site should receive induction
training, be made aware of site rules, the hazards in the workplace
and emergency plans, e.g. smoking policy, first aid and fire
procedures etc.
To verify safe system of work it is good practice to
regularly audit contractors safe working practices.
Refer HSE
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