- Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
- Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
- HSE Guidance INDG368: Using Contractors
The contractor management challenge
When you engage contractors, you share responsibility for how their work affects safety on your premises. Effective contractor management is a four-stage process: selection, pre-work assessment, on-site control, and post-work review. The HSE guidance INDG368 explains the basics.
Selection
Assess competence before engagement:
- Request evidence of qualifications, memberships and insurance
- Review their risk assessments and method statements (RAMS)
- Check references from comparable work
Pre-work assessment
Exchange information about:
- Site-specific hazards (asbestos, working at height, hot work)
- Permit-to-work requirements
- Emergency procedures and site rules
On-site control
- Induct contractors before work begins
- Monitor compliance with agreed RAMS
- Use permit-to-work systems for high-risk activities
Post-work review
- Inspect completed work
- Record any incidents or near misses
- Feed lessons learned back into future contractor selection
For construction work, the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 impose additional duties on dutyholders.
Cited Sources & Official References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is contractor management in health and safety?
Contractor management is the four-stage process of selecting, pre-work assessing, on-site controlling, and post-work reviewing contractors so that their work does not create unmanaged risk on your premises.
What should I check before engaging a contractor?
Request evidence of qualifications, memberships and insurance, review their risk assessments and method statements (RAMS), and check references from comparable work.
Do the CDM Regulations apply to contractor management?
For construction work, the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 impose additional duties on dutyholders, including contractor management and co-ordination.
About Louanne Lanahan
Founder & Director · CMIOSH · OSHCR
Chartered Safety Practitioner (CMIOSH), registered on OSHCR, MIFSM, AIFireE, and NFRAR. Founder and Director of Lanahan Risk Management Services Ltd since 2014.