Managing WHS with Contractors is consistently identified as one of the key WHS issues for most public sector agencies. Yet it remains one of the more misunderstood and mismanaged parts of health and safety.
- “I can’t monitor how they do their work. It’s not work I know how to do…that’s why I get a contractor!”
- “if I influence how they do their work then that makes me liable”
- “how they work is up to them….it’s none of my business”
- “we use a contract template, that was put together by <insert Department of your choice that provides procurement support>, all of the WHS stuff is taken care of in that”.
What do all of the above comments have in common?
- Firstly, they are common comments, drawn from numerous FWS contractor management reviews, that come from Public Sector people who have key roles in managing contracts and contractors.
- Secondly, they are beliefs that make perfect sense to the people that hold them. But…these beliefs are largely incorrect, particularly so since 2022.
- Lastly, they are beliefs that all too often lead to public sector agency people who should be playing a role in managing WHS with contractors failing to take on that role. The outcome of people failing to play their role?… it leaves the Agency and its senior management vulnerable to Regulator attention regarding “Duty failure”; and people (both workers for the contractor and your own) vulnerable to the kind of incidents everyone wishes never happened.
…they are beliefs that need to be addressed and understanding built.
For guidance on Contractor Management, refer to our recently updated Contractor Health and Safety Management Guide.
