Under the Health and Safety at Work Act, businesses working together on a project have overlapping health and safety duties.
Managing your contractors well not only helps to improve planning and communication, but makes your projects more efficient, saving you time and money.
Contractor management may be a simple conversation between a business and a one-off contractor (for example, a business engaging a contractor to install a piece of equipment). The parties should discuss the work that will be done, the risks involved (both at the workplace, and any risks created by the work) and how those risks will be managed. It is good practice to simply note what has been discussed or develop and exchange a Job Safety Analysis (JSA) for standard work.
Where an ongoing relationship is intended, or where multiple businesses are involved, or complex or high-risk work more formal documentation will be required. We can help you select and develop the best process and the documentation needed.
Contractor Management
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act, businesses working together on a project have overlapping health and safety duties. Businesses must consult, cooperate and coordinate activities with all other businesses they share overlapping duties with.
Job Safety Analysis
Safety Plans
Written agreements between the parties
Part of sound contractor management requires you to Consult, Cooperate and Co-ordinate (3Cs).
Assessing what is needed and developing effective processes early will help to meet your obligations to under the Health and Safety at Work Act.