Safety Duty holder Questions Answered – Contractors

13/10/2022

What is the definition of Contractor?

A Contractor means any employer whose employees carry out construction work and includes both main contractor and sub-contractor. Contractor may also include a self-employed person where such a person supplies materials and labour or labour only.  In addition, a body such as a local authority may also be a contractor, if the construction work is carried out directly by employees of that body.

What are the duties of Contractors?

The contractor has significant duties relating to a wide range of issues.

A contractor must:

  • co-operate with the PSCS – provide a copy of your safety statement and relevant information to the PSCS
  • promptly provide the PSCS with information required for the safety file
  • comply with directions of the project supervisors
  • report accidents to the Authority and to the PSCS where an employee cannot perform their normal work for more than 3 days
  • comply with site rules and the safety and health plan and ensure that your employees comply
  • identify hazards, eliminate the hazards or reduce risks during construction
  • facilitate the site safety representative
  • ensure that relevant workers have a safety awareness card and a construction skills card where required
  • provide workers with site specific induction
  • appoint a safety officer where there are more than 20 on site or 30 employed
  • consult workers with site specific induction
  • monitor compliance and take corrective action

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