Control of Contractors

Within any client/employer/contractor relationship all parties have duties under health and safety law and Contractors can be engaged in a range work across all Services, therefore the policy requirements are applicable wherever and whenever this occurs.

All line managers involved in engaging/employing contractors for work will ensure that mechanisms are in place to allow full cooperation with all those involved (contractors and any sub- contractors). Importantly they need to exchange clear information about the workplace hazards and any risks arising from their respective activities.

Those managers of Services who employ contractors to undertake any work are responsible for the management and control of those contractors until the completion of the work.

Determining the management involvement and the level of supervision of contractors required does depend on the nature of the work that is being undertaken. The more impact the contractor’s work could have on increasing the health and safety risks of anyone likely to be affected, then the greater the management and supervisory responsibilities need to be. This needs to be decided before any work commences.

All Contractors must have undergone all the required suitability checks at the pre tender contract stage and will be approved as part of contractor approval system for NHS Lothian.