Contractors: Who's Responsible for Safety?

MBLR CONTRACTORS: WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR SAFETY? When multiple employers are involved, determining who's responsible for compliance with safety rules can be difficult. Use this guide to gain a better understanding of your responsibilities if you hire contractors, perform contract work, or work at a multiemployer jobsite. OSHA'S RULE OF THUMB HOST EMPLOYER CONTRACTOR Responsible for informing contractors of: Responsible for making sure their employees know how to do their jobs safely Hazardous conditions specific to the host's workplace Safety-related workplaces the contractor's employees must follow GUIDELINES FOR SPECIFIC STANDARDS Some of OSHA's standards specifically address contractors and multiemployer situations. Here are 3 that are common to many types of workplaces: Hazard Communication HOST CONTRACTOR YBATA SHEETS Inform host employer of any hazardous chemicals it will be bringing onto the worksite to which the host's employees could be exposed SAFETY DA Inform contractors of hazardous chemicals present in the workplace, location of SDSS, and required safe work practices and/or PPE Provide SDSS, proper labeling, and information about safe work practices for chemicals brought to the worksite DANGER CONFIMED SE Confined Spaces HOST CONTRACTOR Inform contractors of permit- required confined spaces present in the workplace, their hazards, and any required safe work practices Coordinate entry operations with the host if contractor's employees will be entering permit spaces Inform the host employer of the permit-space program that the contractor's employees must follow and of any hazards created or discovered in permit spaces Coordinate entry operations with the contractor Record when both host and contractor's employees will be working in or near confined spaces Lockout/Tagout HOST CONTRACTOR Inform contractor of equipment or machinery requiring lockout/tagout and onsite procedures in Inform on-site employer of your lockout/tagout procedures HOST EMPLOYERS and CONTRACTORS must inform each other of their respective lockout/tagout procedures Make sure employees are aware of equipment on the worksite that requires lockout/tagout use Make sure employees understand and follow contractor's lockout/tagout restrictions For more information on how OSHA evaluates employer responsibility and issues citations at multiemployer worksites, see our MULTIEMPLOYER CITATION POLICY infographic. BLR OSHA's Mulelemel an Poliey 4troes of erleyers CREATING CONTROLLING Each type of empleyer has certain SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIEN. TIPS FOR HIRING CONTRACTORS Ask to see evidence of a contractor's safety program before agreeing to hire them, and make safety compliance a condition of 'employment. Compare a potential contractor's safety program to your company's safety program. Agree on how to resolve differences before the start of a project. Develop a written plan that addresses each employer's safety responsibilities on'a project. Remember to consider training, PPE, enforcement, and other issues. Agree on a set of sitewide safety procedures that all workers must follow. It should address common issues such as drug and alcohol "use, horseplay, PPE requirements, first aid, emergency procedures, and anything else relevant to your site. Still have questions? Visit Safety.BLR.com's Contractor Safety resource center for training materials, tips, customizable plans, and more. Sources: www.osha.gov http://Safety.BLR.com LBLR Follow us on Twitter: @BLR_EHS @SafetyDailyAdv Disclaimer: The information provided here does not represent legal or any other type of professional advice and should not be used as a substitute for legal advice from a qualified attorney licensed in your state. Copyright © 2013 BLRO-Business and Legal Resources. All rights reserved.