In this blog, we will discuss how integrating EHS into every stage of the contractor management process enables the conditions for a safer working environment and reduces the likelihood of incidents.
Unfortunately, news stories about serious accidents and deaths involving contractors are all too frequent. Just last month, two contractors died in a sanitation plant in Kentucky, USA, where they became trapped in a tank of raw sewage. It is well known that inadequate contractor management often results in serious accidents. This is evidenced in the UK’s Health and Safety Executive guide ‘HSG 159: Managing Contractors: A guide for employers’ for further information‘, which includes examples of accidents. This guide also outlines a simple questionnaire to help organizations determine the effectiveness of their contractor management process and negate these negative outcomes.
Effective EHS contractor management is an integral part of ensuring worker’s safety and requires a blend of coordination, communication, and oversight to ensure that work is conducted safely, efficiently, and in compliance with organizational standards. The principles of managing contractors remain consistent irrespective of the industry, size, or location, however, the scale and complexity may vary.
