1. Liaison & Insurance
All contractors must provide evidence of appropriate Employers’ Liability and Public Liability Insurance. Contractors must be able to indemnify the Company for any injury or damage caused on site to a minimum value of five million pounds per incident or five times the value of the contract, (whichever is the greater) or another amount agreed in writing with the Liaison Manager.
Contractors must use their Liaison Manager for all day-to-day contact.
All contractors must maintain a suitably qualified agent on site, who is authorised to issue and accept instructions on their behalf for the duration of the contract.
2. Legal Compliance / Safety Policy
Contractors must supply the Liaison Manager with a copy of their Safety Policy before the contract commences.
All work carried out by the contractor must comply with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, all associated regulations, approved codes of practices and guidance notes, including those relating to environmental protection.
Contractors who act illegally or flout reasonable Company instructions or requests may be refused access to the site; the Company will not be responsible for any costs incurred.
All contractors must display notices, carry out inspections and keep all records required by statute, and be able to satisfy the Liaison Manager that all such records and arrangements are adequate.
The contractor will accept the responsibility of advising the Company, in sufficient time, of any information required of the Company by the contractor or which the Company is legally obliged to provide under the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015.
The contractor must not allow any intoxicating liquor or drugs to be brought onto the site. He shall not allow any of his employees, who may be under the influence of either, to enter or remain on the Site.
3. Access onto Site / Exit from Site
Upon arrival all contractors should access the site via Gate 1 (17t limit; vehicles over this should access via Gate 2) and park in a designated visitor space, then report to reception for site induction and security purposes.
The site operates a one-way system – all contractors should therefore exit the site via Gate 2.
4. Accidents and Incidents
Contractors must inform their Liaison Manager of any accident, incident or near miss involving his employees or equipment. Contractors will remain responsible for notifying the HSE of any reportable accident, major injury or dangerous occurrence.
Contractors may make use of site first aid facilities; the Liaison Manager should be informed immediately to enable first aid assistance to be called.
Access into any production area must be authorised by the Liaison Manager; all contractors must pay due regard to Company warning signs and notices, and must not enter any exclusion zones that have been determined as part of the process.
5. Fire
Contractors will be made aware of local fire arrangements as part of their induction upon arrival at site but should familiarise themselves with the escape routes in their areas of work. Should a fire alarm be sounded then the contractor will evacuate his personnel to Assembly Point 1 and should be prepared to indicate the names of his personnel on site at that moment.
Contractors will be notified beforehand of any practice fire drills and will be expected to take part in the evacuation.
6. Sub- Contractors
Contractors will not introduce sub-contractors onto the site without prior authorisation from the Liaison Manager. It is the responsibility of the contractor to ensure that the sub-contractors understand all matters of risk and control on the site and the requirements of the contract.
7. Welfare Amenities
Toilets, cloakroom, canteen and washing facilities may be available for use with the prior agreement of the Liaison Manager. Otherwise contractors should provide their own facilities.
Smoking is prohibited on site.
8. Risk Assessments
Contractors will provide the Liaison Manager with such risk assessments or method statements as required by the contract.
The term risk assessment may extend to assessments made under the COSHH Regulations, the PPE Regulations, the Manual Handling Regulations and the Noise at Work Regulations.
9. Vehicles on Site
The contractor may not bring vehicles onto the site unless they have the authorisation of the Liaison Manager. Where vehicles are being used to deliver goods connected with the contract they must not remain on site longer than is necessary to load or off-load.
Where contractors require the use of hired forklifts, cranes, MEWPs, or wish to borrow company equipment, it will remain the responsibility of the contractor to ensure that his staff are trained, competent and certified to use such vehicles (licences must be produced and high visibility clothing must be worn).
In the case of 9.2 contractors should be aware that these vehicles may drive against the flow of traffic in the car park to enable them to access the factory as necessary.
All vehicles must comply with any site speed limits and any traffic control signs.
10. Tools & Equipment
Contractors are responsible for the security and maintenance of their own materials and equipment on site, and for ensuring that any such equipment is in a safe working condition. The Company reserves the right to prohibit the use of any equipment which, in the opinion of the Liaison Manager, is in a dangerous condition.
Contractors may not make use of company personnel, materials, services or equipment unless written authorisation has been obtained from the Liaison Manager.
In this case contractors must ensure that any such tools, equipment or services are fit for the use to which they are to be put. The Company does not, under any circumstances, accept any liability for injury or damage arising from the malfunction of or the use of tools, services or equipment as outlined above.
Where permission has been granted to use the Company’s plant, such as lifting equipment, it is the responsibility of the contractor to ensure that he / his employees are competent and appropriately trained.
No asbestos containing materials may be brought onto site under any circumstances.
11. COSHH Regulations
Contractors must have approval from the Liaison Manager prior to bringing onto site any substances deemed hazardous to health. An MSDS and a written assessment must be provided in advance so that any implications may be considered and site personnel appropriately protected; this should also include details of appropriate storage for any chemicals to remain on site throughout the duration of the work. Assessments must also be produced for any work activity which generates substances within this definition.
12. Personal Protective Equipment
It is the responsibility of the contractor to provide his employees with all appropriate personal protective equipment found to be necessary following any assessment.
13. Process Controls
Contractors must not interfere with or operate any valve, tap, switch or other plant control; any alterations must be undertaken by site personnel only.
14. Guarding and Controls
All work equipment brought onto site by the contractor must comply fully with the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.
Contractors must not interfere with or remove any guard or process control on work equipment belonging to the site.
Contractors must not under any circumstances leave any machine un-isolated during repair; any existing locks must not be interfered with without consulting the Maintenance Foreman.
15. Water
The storage of any material over or adjacent to any drainage system is prohibited; Contractors must not undertake any activities that would pollute or block any drainage system. Any process involving the use of significant quantities of water may only be carried on with the prior approval of the Liaison Manager.
Contractors must not isolate or interfere with any part of the company water system without prior authorisation from the HSE Manager
16. Electrical Work
Modifications or repair work to equipment in a live state may only be undertaken with the prior authorisation of the HSE Manager and upon receipt of a Permit to Work; Contractors are not automatically authorised to carry out work of this nature. Work will only proceed upon consideration of the following: Contractors must be properly trained and competent to work on live equipment, have adequate knowledge of the conductors involved, have suitably insulated tools and instruments and impose an effective exclusion zone.
All portable electrical equipment brought onto site must be subjected to regular tests and examinations (PAT) and operate at 110 volts centre-tapped. In addition all cables and extension leads must be in good condition, properly maintained and terminated.
The contractor’s distribution, lighting systems and wiring must be in accordance with BSI Code of Practice 4363:1968 for the distribution of electricity on construction and building sites. All electrical supplies to site huts will be controlled by RCCBs.
Electrical welding equipment must be supplied with a flexible trailing cable or suitable conductor size to match the loading which should not exceed 30 amps at 440 volts. Cable for use on 3-phase supplies must be either 5-core or 4-core metallic screened cable, and for single-phase supply must be 4-core or 3-core metallic screened. In all cases the electrode lead must consist of a suitable sized tough rubber sheathed or PVC sheathed flexible copper conductor, both of which should be fire resisting. In all cases the earth lead must extend to the equipment under weld.
Structural steelwork may not be used as an earth return. All electrical welding equipment for use in tanks, vessels or where wet conditions prevail must be of the motor generator DC type and not AC transformer sets.
17. Hot Work
Contractors must not carry out any hot work involving naked flames, welding (gas and electric), burning, soldering, brazing, blowlamps, bitumen boilers and other equipment that produces naked flames on the site except upon receipt of a Hot Work Permit, issued by or with the knowledge of the Liaison Manager.
Any hot work associated with drums or any type of enclosed vessel will only be carried out using a Permit to Work system which includes certification of the drum or vessel as being free from any vapours, sludge or solid residues likely to lead to a flammable atmosphere.
The Hot Work Permit and Permit to Work shall include conditions regarding the provision of fire extinguishers.
All welding should conform to BSI Codes of Practice. Any gas welding or flame-cutting equipment brought onto site is expected to be fitted with flashback arrestors and the contractor for the securing of gas cylinders on site should make proper arrangements. This applies both to cylinders that are in use and spares. The term ‘securing’ relates not only to securing in silent hours but also the physical securing of cylinders so that they cannot fall or be knocked over resulting in valve damage.
During hot work operations the contractor will take effective steps to ensure that no sparks or molten metal can injure any person or cause damage or start fires. Particular attention should be paid to work with angle grinders on or near flammable cladding materials, cables, trenches, surface machine or hydraulic oil and flammable services.
Once ignited, no torch or burner must be left unattended.
18. Pressure Systems
Any repair work or modifications to the existing pressure system must be carried out in compliance with the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000.
19. Entry into Confined Spaces
Contractors will not enter any confined space except upon receipt of a Permit to Work which indicates that the item of plant is safe for entry and the obligations set out in the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997.
Should the use of breathing apparatus be necessary then the arrangements for the provision, maintenance and training in connection with such breathing apparatus shall be agreed in advance with the Liaison Manager.
20. Work at Height
Contractors may not undertake any work at height without the provision of suitable assessment and only upon receipt of a Permit to Work.
21. Scaffolds & Access
All scaffolds must be erected and maintained to the standards laid out in BS 5973:1993 Code of Practice for access and working scaffolds and special scaffold structures in steel, and CIS 49, General access scaffolds and ladders.
All mobile and fixed tower scaffolds must be erected and maintained in accordance with CIS10, Tower scaffolds, and HSG150, Health & Safety in Construction.
All weekly inspections of scaffolds must be carried out by the person who originally erected the scaffolding, according to CIS47, Inspection and reports.
All ladders used for access must conform with BS2037 Class 1, be of good condition, adequately secured before use and must extend one metre above the point of landing.
Where work is undertaken from a ladder it must be of short duration.
22. Work on Roofs
Any work carried out on either internal or external roofs will require a Permit to Work, to be issued by the Liaison Manager. The contractor is required to provide edge protection unless the nature and short-duration of the work is such that the provision of edge protection is not warranted, e.g. during very minor maintenance work. These recommendations are contained in HSE Booklet HS(G)33 and the Contractor is expected to observe these controls at all times.
23. Protection of Property
The contractor will ensure by proper boarding, shuttering or other means, that the property on the site or adjoining properties is protected from damage.
24. Painting & Decorating
Contractors must ensure that adequate protective measures, including covering adjacent areas and/or plant with dust sheets is carried out. Any accidental spills/splashes of paint will be cleaned at the contractor’s expense.
25. Lifting
All lifting appliances, hoists and lifting gear must be tested and inspected in strict conformity with LOLER 1998 and the test/examination certificates, or a copy, should be available on site.
Hoists must be correctly erected and the hoist way guarded to the appropriate standard at all levels. Where hired cranes are brought onto the site, the contractor is responsible for seeing that these cranes comply with the legislation referred to above and that current certificates are available on site for inspection.
Contractors are responsible for checking the competency of the drivers of hired cranes.
26. Holes & Opening
The contractor is responsible for ensuring that any sump pit, hole or similar excavation, which is opened or created as part of the contract, is securely fenced.
The contractor will be held fully liable for any damage caused as a result of excavations undertaken without the prior knowledge and approval of the HSE Manager.
27. Disposal of Waste
It is the responsibility of the contractor to arrange for and dispose of all waste generated by the work undertaken. In the event of a dispute as to which contractor is responsible for the clearance of waste, it shall be left to the discretion of the Supervisor to decide who is responsible for the clearance, and the nominated contractor will then arrange disposal.
Contractors must obtain prior permission to engage skips to be brought on site for their waste. It is their responsibility to maintain proper lighting and barriers to protect pedestrian and vehicular traffic around any such skips. The Company accepts no responsibility for any unauthorised depositing of rubbish, surplus materials, debris, etc in the skips by its employees or others.
The removal and/or disposal of any waste is to be undertaken in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (Duty of Care) regulations.
Contractors must use their Liaison Manager for all day-to-day contact.
All contractors must maintain a suitably qualified agent on site, who is authorised to issue and accept instructions on their behalf for the duration of the contract.