Managing Contractor Safety (ISO 45001 Clause 8.1.4)

Introduction

Contractors are often at higher risk because they are unfamiliar with your site and its specific hazards. ISO 45001 requires you to coordinate with contractors to manage these risks.

Procurement (8.1.4.1)

Safety starts before the contractor arrives.

• Selection: Check their safety record (TRIR, EMR) and safety manual before hiring them.
• Criteria: Make safety a selection criteria, not just price.

Contractors (8.1.4.2)

You must coordinate your procurement process with your contractors to identify hazards and assess and control risks arising from:

• The contractors’ activities and operations that impact the organization.
• The organization’s activities and operations that impact the contractors’ workers.
• The contractors’ activities and operations that impact other interested parties in the workplace.

Outsourcing (8.1.4.3)

If you outsource a process (e.g., maintenance, cleaning), you are still responsible for its conformity to requirements. You must define the controls intended to be applied to the outsourced process.

Practical Steps

1. Induction: Every contractor must receive a safety induction before starting work.
2. Permits: Use Permit to Work systems for high-risk tasks (hot work, confined space).
3. Monitoring: Spot-check contractors to ensure they are following your rules.