There is a wildly held assumption that by using subcontractors a business is also outsourcing the risks associated with that work as well as the work its self. This is of course not true.

The business, the owner or the occupier of the land (the client), is also responsible for ensuring that a safe working environment is provided for contractors. Contractors too have similar responsibilities to their client and to their staff. The boundaries however often become obscured.

Many relationships with contractors are longstanding and close working. This can foster an environment where asking for evidence of compliance can be more difficult. It may be embarrassing or implies criticism of a close trading partner to request copies of safety policies or assessments.

Everyone needs to understand the part they need to play in ensuring health and safety. You will need to satisfy yourself that the contractor you choose can do the job safely and without risks to health. This means making enquiries about the competence of the contractor – do they have the right combination of skills? experience and knowledge? The degree of competence required will depend on the work. Similarly, the level of enquiries you make should be determined by the level of risks and the complexity of the job.

Examples of questions you could ask potential contractors include:

• What arrangements do they have for managing the work? For example, who will be responsible, how will the work be supervised, what checks do they make on equipment and materials etc?
• Will you they be using subcontractors and if so how will they check their competency? The level of competence for subcontractors will depend on the risk and the complexity of the work.
• What is their recent health and safety performance? For example, how many accidents and cases of ill health have you had, has HSE taken any action taken against you?
• Do they have a written health and safety policy? (This is only a requirement if five or more people are employed.)
• Can they provide existing risk assessments done for similar jobs? Again, written risk assessments are only required by law if five or more people are employed.
• What qualifications, skills and experience do they have in this type of work
• What health and safety information and training do they provide for their workers?
• Do they have Employers’ Liability Compulsory Insurance?