Hiring Competent Contractors: Procedures for Ensuring Health and Safety

Abstract

Procedure for employment of team of contractors To provide the necessary requirements and specifications to the contractors before they tender so as they can be in a position to gauge themselves as per the ability to carry out the job Assess the contractors due diligence to health and safety guidelines by privately enquiring whether the contractor is suitably qualified to perform the work. Finding out whether the contractor has an appropriate health and safety management system By finding out whether the contractor is fully inducted into the health and safety management systems Do a research on the risk that maybe posed by the contractors to the job that I intend them to do To come up with strategies and ways of risks management and control so as to be prepared of any eventualities before the actual works begin To be prepared and equipped on my duty of care to the contractors and their workers Find out how the contractors intend to utilize the job safety analysis that they may have developed Ensure that the most competent contractors are selected by use of the set selection criteria Do an assessment for competency by incorporating; The evidence that the contractors may have in the same type of work that I would intend to give Consider references from previous clients and employers which all have to be traceable Accident health statistics Risks assessments and methods statements Documentation Signing of contracts Framework outlining the division of work that is to be undertaken that is well broken down into specific tasks and responsibilities Contractor statement stating that the contractor has agreed to follow the set policies, procedures and the codes of practice. WHS Management plan that would aid me into application of the WHS management systems It is good to check on the evidence of insurances and certify whether the contractors are responsible for their own insurance cover or it the employer would cover the contractors in the workers compensation Evidence of licences is crucial because it may entail some contractors requirement to have licences that may require them undertaking in certain high risks jobs WHS Requirements The principal contactor to have prepared a written WHS management plan for the workplace before commencement which must include; Names, position and health and safety responsibilities of all persons who are to be in the workplace or whose positions or roles involve health and safety responsibilities The arrangement concerning the management of work health and safety incidents that may occur The arrangements for the collection and any assessments, monitoring and review of safe work methods at the workplace. There should be a description of the WHS responsibilities that must include the name, position and the appropriate authority of personnel The WHS should entail the responsibilities defining who is eligible and liable to making decisions and to take actions on the occurring WHS issues, which should clearly entail the duties and responsibilities the managing directors, project managers, the WHS management representatives, the WHS committees as well as the contractors and the subcontractors information with regards to project at hand Training as per the WHS be done and instructions provided with regards to the nature of the work being done and the nature of risks that might be involved while undertaking that particular job Induction The contractors and subcontractors must be inducted in the...