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Contractor Competance Working At height
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Duncan37289  
#1 Posted : 30 November 2011 11:57:37(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
Duncan37289
My organisation are currently trying to engage the services of a roofing contractor to carry out small one off repairs on our buildings. We have a contractor approval process and the small contractor (a one man band) has admitted he has no formal work at height training. If we were to approve him and he had an accident and the HSE were involved could we be susceptible to prosecution or formal action and if so under which regulations?
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DaveDowan  
#2 Posted : 30 November 2011 12:49:47(UTC)
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DaveDowan
Hi you may be able to approve him on his competence which is more important, can he prove he is competent
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firesafety101  
#3 Posted : 30 November 2011 13:43:52(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
firesafety101
You could approve him and get someone else to supervise his work - must be competent though.
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Guru  
#4 Posted : 30 November 2011 14:29:10(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Guru
you may find the following document of assistance...

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg368.pdf

View 'select a suitable contractor' section for more info.
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Murray18822  
#5 Posted : 30 November 2011 16:52:59(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Murray18822
Says he has no work at height training. You want him to undertake small one off repairs to buildings - roof top work, gutter cleaning and the like?
Check out the HSE website and search for a document called 'Selecting competent contractors for work at height' - should prove to be useful.
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RayRapp  
#6 Posted : 30 November 2011 18:03:19(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
RayRapp
It is not unusual for small one-man band types not to have any formal training or qualifications for certain aspects of their work. Competence is normally regarded as a mix of experience, knowledge, training and qualifications. So, provided he can show he is competent through experience and knowledge, there should not be a problem.
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firesafety101  
#7 Posted : 30 November 2011 21:42:03(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
firesafety101
How about references from other people he has worked for if there is similar work he has done in the past?
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Ron Hunter  
#8 Posted : 01 December 2011 13:15:29(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Ron Hunter
Good call at #5. "No formal training" suggests the contractor has no experience beyond ladder work, is this suitable for the range of tasks you have in mind?
Your tender process could usefully include a requirement to submit simple method statements for a selection of your properties - these tend to tease out skills and knowledge gaps.
All other things being equal, you still have to monitor performance after appointment.
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