Posted By Rebecca Wignall The company, which I work for, procures small contractors to undertake low value/high volume insurance repair works within domestic properties (the policyholder’s home). Typical trades include plumbing, painting, decorating, joinery, electrical work, roof work, glazing etc. The Contractors used (mostly employ less than 5 people) are soon to be issued with our Company health & safety policy and safety rules, detailing requirements for assessing risk, reporting of accidents etc. The tradesmen employed have appropriate knowledge & experience of the activities they undertake although the majority are unable to demonstrate any health & safety training, in which case I do not feel they are competent to undertake suitable & sufficient risk assessments. The Croner’s Construction Risk Assessment document states that ‘significant findings of a risk assessment should be recorded where the employer employs five of more employees’. Does this mean that Contractors employing less than five do not need to record or provide risk assessments to us (even if we are asking them to comply with our health & safety policy - which requires mechanisms & systems to be in place for the progressive identification & the removal of risks involving injury, ill health or material damage)? Any thoughts on the requirements for RAs for small contractors & the level of control/supervision on non-fixed sites, would be appreciated.

Posted By Ashley Williams Rebecca, Employers are not required to have written risk assessments if they employ less than 5 employees, this however does not mean that they can get away with not doing them, they just don’t have to write them down. They should provide them if you ask for them though. If you want them to provide them there is no reason you cant request them, many large companies now ask for Safety policies, Accident Statistics and risk assessments even from the lone traders. You could also make these requests. Your concern about their competency to do risk assessments is valid, however there is no requirement for them to have had safety training. They just have to have the knowledge, skills and experience of doing the job. As for supervision that’s always difficult when small works are involved. Basically you need to induct them into how you work, consider spot checks and monitoring of all your contractors on a regular basis possibly quarterly. Hope this helps, if you need more just give me a call on 01535 664462. I work for a health and safety project we provide free advice, information, training and support to SME's and charities. So if I can help drop me a call. Ashley

Posted By Rob Anthony Just to add an observation on this subject. I have come across building companies who won't employ 5 (they keep at 4 or less) but use sub-contractors to make up the numbers for jobs, on the basis that they don't have written policies for Health & safety. There are no Health & safety plans or assessments done at all. Any comments?

Posted By Robert K Lewis Just be clear that the CDM requirement refers to the number of people working on the project not whether they are all directly employed by the same employer. Hence 4 direct + 1 subcontractor, or equivalent to give 5, is sufficient. The requirement for risk assessments at this number of persons is in general terms the one under the Management Regs - I think however that the HSE will be more than happy to settle at the lack of a safe system of work to fill the gap if the work has any degree of complexity or co-ordination between various parties. Bob