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People discussing workplace safety and contractor management

Contractors causing headaches?

You use contractors because you need their expertise. But you still need to manage the health and safety risks they bring.

Winsland helps you put the right contractor management arrangements in place — without creating unnecessary paperwork or bureaucracy.

The problem

Contractors can introduce significant risks, particularly when they are carrying out specialist or high-risk work alongside your normal operations.

You don’t always know exactly what contractors are doing.
Their H&S systems may not align with yours, or they may be missing elements.
High-risk work may be happening without adequate controls.
You’re not sure what you should require from contractors.
SSSPs, pre-qualification and paperwork can become a box-ticking exercise.
Your people may not have the specialist knowledge needed to supervise the work.

Why it matters

When you engage a contractor, you don’t simply hand over the health and safety risk. Your business and the contractor may have overlapping duties, and those duties need to be managed in a practical way.

The level of management should reflect the work being undertaken. Low-risk work does not need the same level of scrutiny as work involving heights, electricity, chemicals, confined spaces or other significant hazards.

A contractor management system that fits the work

Good contractor management is not about collecting more paperwork. It’s about making sure the right things are understood, agreed and checked before and during the work.

Know who you’re engaging

Pre-qualification, reference checks and competency information can help you understand whether a contractor is suitable for the work.

Understand the work

Identify the hazards, critical risks and controls that need to be addressed before work begins.

Set clear expectations

Make sure responsibilities, site requirements, communication and emergency arrangements are understood by everyone involved.

Check that controls are working

Use inspections, audits and practical verification rather than relying solely on completed forms.

How Winsland can help

We can provide as much or as little support as you need, depending on the work, the risks and your own capability.

Contractor pre-qualification and competency checks
Reviewing or developing SSSPs
Reviewing or writing Safe Work Procedures
Contractor audits and inspections
Advice on high-risk work, Approved Codes of Practice, standards and critical controls
Practical support when you don’t have the internal expertise or resources
CASE STUDY

Managing contractors on a major Auckland construction project

Winsland was engaged to establish the health and safety framework and supporting systems for a large Auckland construction project involving a substantial contractor workforce.

Contractor management was central to the project. Winsland:

  • Developed the health and safety management system and supporting procedures.
  • Pre-qualified the main contractors.
  • Provided monthly auditing to give Directors independent assurance.
  • Developed the site traffic management plan.
  • Supported incident investigations.
  • Coached site management on contractor management.

The project was able to engage a large workforce quickly while maintaining strong health and safety standards and completing the development without serious health and safety incidents involving workers, contractors or residents.

Not sure how much contractor management you need?

Tell us what your contractors are doing and we’ll help you work out what needs to be in place.

Talk to Winsland