You probably need to think about how you'd apply the cards as a penalty, i.e. what level of failure would a red card be appropriate?

These might help as a starter:

Minor infringements:

Lack of health and safety signs
Lack of fire extinguishers
Failure to notify contract administrator of accidents and near misses
Damage to property or equipment

Significant infringements:

Lack of personal protective equipment
Lack of statutory inspection reports
Lack of construction phase H&S plan on site
Lack of site induction training records
Ladder faults
Lack of mechanical lifting equipment and excessive manual handling
Lack of proper care for flammable substances including LPG

Major infringements:

Failure to comply with asbestos removal and disposal legislation
Failings in site security that would allow non-employees to gain access
Activities that endanger passers-by and other non-employees in the vicinity
Lack of welfare facilities
Faults in scaffolds
Unqualified or untrained people on site
Faults in dumper trucks, fork trucks and other site vehicles

Sorry, to clarify, I was assuming that the site would be managed by the principal contractor with a number of sub-contractors coming onto site and it was a question about applying a system, whether that be one of education, penalty or both, to those contractors.

David 1967 Hi,

Presuming that the need to use either colour card would mean that there is a safety concern. Which is similar to other organisations (such as mine) that use non-conformance reports.

I apologise if you already do this, but in the first instance I would ensure that your contractors are competent by conducting a stringent selection process, this should hopefully lead to the selection of diligent contractors who hopefully won't cut safety corners, removing the need to trot out N/C's or cards (fingers crossed).

After each N/C (or yellow card) we stop the individual job, conduct an investigation, call in the contractors management and explain the problem and findings, returning the onus back to them to manage their employee's. As you are responsible under section 3, I would up the supervision rate for that contractor and document it (inspection reports) hopefully they will see that you mean it and your company does take safety seriously.

In all situations the individual concerned must be informed of what they have done to lead to the N/C or yellow card, it may be possible that they were just ignorant of the issue this would hopefully be found out during the investigation (and no wise cracks against Brickies, my Dad was a Brickie).

My company uses the three strikes and your out (red card) principle (3 yellows / 3 N/C's) the contractor company is then deemed too much of a risk for your company to use, as they will be driving you towards that potential section 3 offence. This would be recorded on your approved contractors register, big red stripe and every one knows that they are not to be used either again or for a specified time period.


Regards

Simon