4th US-EU JOINT CONFERENCE ON OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH

14th US/EU joint OSH-conference

4th US-EU JOINT CONFERENCE

ON

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH

September 14-16, 2005 Orlando, Florida


Topic Contractor Safety


Contractor SafetyChair EU: Kris De Meester,

Spokesman – Employers, Federation of Enterprises in Belgium

Co-chair US: Naomi G. Swanson, Ph.D. Leader, Worker Organization and Stress Research Team, NIOSH

Scribes US:

– Roger R. Rosa, Senior Scientist, NIOSH

– Michael Sprinker, Director H&S ICWUC


Contractor Safety IntroductionTopics

– Description of the problem– Training and instruction– Specific management systems/tools for

contractor safety– Effect on health and safety indicators– Outcomes


Subtopic 1: Description of the problem

Contractor Safety


Focus questions What are the industries where contracting

arrangements are a significant aspect of the conduct and organization of work?

What types of work are typically covered by these contracting arrangements, what are the types of employers, and are there particular groups of workers affected?

What are the safety and heath impacts and issues associated with contracting work for these industries, employers and workers?

What are the factors/aspects of contracting work that contribute to safety and health problems?


Subtopic 3: Specific management systems/tools

for contractor safety

Contractor Safety


Management system componentsCf. all the classic components of

safety, health and environment management systems

Additional/specific components, interfaces or highlights for contractor safety


Leadership & commitment From the principal’s side From the contractor’s side From the worker’s side It will work if the principal is truly (more than just state it)

committed If not: outside pressure/drivers

– Legislation– Insurance– Etc.

Trained/qualified people for contractor management Stop work authority

– Principal, contractor, workers– Put it in the contract– Do it well, do it consistently

Partnership: set expectations– Even prior to the contract– Include subcontractors


Risk assessment Easy to say but takes hard and continuous work to

realize– Global analysis– Capture change (people, process, equipment, etc.)– Job hazard analysis– Specific hazards procedure– Design stage

Useless without effective communication throughout the whole chain (two way communication)

– Design stage– Contractor selection– Start-work meetings– Toolbox, tailgate– Work-permit system– Coordination structure


Measuring/monitoringHow can we determine the

effectiveness of management systems/tools for contractor safety?

IndicatorsNo one size fits all, combination of

indicatorsOne consistent reporting/monitoring

system for the whole site/all contractors

Everyone has to participate


Indicators % corrective actions (on time) Number of risk analysis completed Quality of the risk analysis Number of hazards eliminated % of safe behaviors observed % training completed Number of safety meetings Near misses reported and corrected Inspections (checklist) Health aspects Monitoring Job hazard analysis with real-time feedback % of workers in hazardous conditions Worker perception (contractors) Coverage of medical aspects (linked to RA) Audits (sample) of contractors at the worksite Combined indicator (weighted scale)

Injury/accident frequency, severity rate Insurance experience modifier rate


Subcontracting How do we ensure that all levels of the contractor

chain (subcontracting) are included? Set expectations + include in communication Limit or exclude subcontractors (in the contract) Chained subcontractors (supervision)

– Not very efficient but effective for high risk/short term contracts

Buddy system for inexperienced workers Visual identification of new contractors and/or

workers Visual identification of training level Insurance system (safety tied rates - bonus/malus)


Subtopic 2: Training and instruction

Contractor Safety


Philosophy Training is not the answer to everything Training is not a one-shot operation

(ongoing system) Learn to walk before you run (start-up

gradually) Risk analysis drives training

– RA What training + how to deliver

Create health and safety culture (start early – education system)


Types of training– Job related (craft competence)– Basic S&H knowledge/skills– Site specific training– Process training

Registration/certification/quality of training!– Need for documentation of training received– Focus on what they don’t know (fill in the gaps)– Portability/transferability/recognition of training– Personal safety logbook, electronic ID-card

Supervisors need information/training– Important target group– Drivers for safety in their team (knowledge of the management

system!) Refresher training is useful/required (eg toolbox) Other components of management system have to reinforce

use of training


Knowledge & skillsHow do we ensure that the contractors

and supervisors of contractors have basic knowledge and skills with regard to the risks present in the workplace?– Set the expectation (contract)– Selection of contractors/workers– Work with certified contractors/workers– Provide the training– Transfer knowledge, skills and abilities

from supervisor to workers– Incorporation in education system


Effectiveness of training Assessment

– Testing/examination• Skills (demonstration)• Knowledge

– Incident investigation– Observation

Side remarks– Train animals, educate people

Way of training (retention)– Distributed vs mass learning– Classical vs on the job, on site– Adult education methods– Quality of the trainer (train the trainers)– Computer based training?


Mutual recognition Important

– Avoid duplicating– Make efficient use of scarce resources

The real value is to be able to accept (or reject) training

Information on content, assessment, organization of the training

Work towards each other step by step (geographical/sector)


Subtopic 4: Effect on health and safety indicators

Contractor Safety


Focus questionsWhat kinds of health and safety

indicators are most important to examine? (Which best reflect the effectiveness of a good and/or poor safety and health program?)


Comparable dataHow can we collect data (especially on

indicators such as performance) that are comparable across industries?– Very difficult– Possible (to some extent) for trailing

indicators– Benchmarking (comparable industries)


Employee perception Structured approach:

– Systematic, permanent structures (H&S committee)– Cover principals and contractor workforce H&S issues– Worker representatives– Freedom to deliver opinions (directly to top management of their

company or principal) Awareness that other aspects influence S&H perception

– Incorporate in well-being, welfare, “worker satisfaction” – Integrate S&H perception in overall HR and S&H approach

Direct touch– Work floor visits– Inspection

Surveys– By questionnaire or observation– Professional assistance (developing, administration,

interpretation) – Third party (neutral) or in-house– Integrated (cf. supra)


Joint actions Contractor safety management:

– Inventory and distribution of good practices in contractor safety management

Training of workers– Criteria for appropriate use (effectiveness) of computer

training (computer based, computer assisted, simulator)– Inventory of good practices in basic H&S training of

workers and H&S training for operational supervisors• Get input from contractors, temporary work agencies

Good practices for overcoming language barriers (contractor employees)

Inspection practice/approach on contractor safety

Documents

4th US-EU JOINT CONFERENCE ON OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH