This Managing Contractors in Offices course is designed to give senior staff the knowledge and skills to effectively manage contractors in office environments.
Managers develop a comprehensive understanding of their duties when hiring, managing and supervising contractors in an office environment. It also clarifies managers’ and contractors’ health and safety responsibilities and covers essential steps for maintaining safety when engaging contractors.
Despite the potential benefits, organisations are exposed to risks when hiring contractors. You must be confident contractors are competent and prepared to cooperate with permanent staff on health and safety issues before any work can begin. Contractors must also be able to effectively assess the risks they’ll face during the hire period.
However, due to the temporary nature of their work, it’s often difficult for contractors to familiarise themselves with particular hazards. This lack of awareness makes it hard for contractors to accurately assess risks and put sufficient control measures in place.
These challenges make the role of the manager pivotal in ensuring the safety and compliance of contractors across the entire contract period. You must be able to collaborate with the contractor to safely plan, supervise and review their work.
As an employer, you have a legal requirement under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 to ensure the health and safety of people at work on your site, including contractors.
It’s essential to be aware of the following responsibilities as an employer:
- Hiring Suitable Contractors: It is your duty to select contractors who are qualified and competent for the tasks at hand.
- Conducting Risk Assessment: You must conduct thorough risk assessments to identify potential hazards associated with contractor work.
- Suitably Controlling Risks: After identifying hazards, it’s essential to implement measures that adequately control and minimise these risks.
- Communicating Health and Safety Information: Ensure contractors have clear and comprehensive health and safety information relevant to their work.
- Cooperation and Coordination: Foster cooperation and coordination between your organisation and contractors to maintain a safe working environment.
- Providing Necessary Supervision: Provide the appropriate level of supervision to ensure compliance with safety procedures.
