Hello All, I am in the process of producing a policy/procedure on the H&S elements of using contractors and have been tying this in with our general procurement policy and I have a general query about how others deal with small contracts. At the moment we have a formal process/questionnaire that contractors complete before they can work for us, checks on RA's, insurance, training etc. and I can see how this sits with 'big' contracts especially those of the construction nature, but how do others deal with small, casual, adhoc contracts especially those that are not construction in nature? As an example we use contractors to provide sandwiches for meetings, another company to water the plants each week, a company to clean the offices etc.? These are all very small in terms of cost and in some cases infrequent in nature. Should we be asking them all for RA's, training certificates, policies, insurance etc. How do others manage the small scale contracts in their business? Or do you apply the same rules to everyone regardless of the size and nature? Would you ask contractors to do this for a job that only costs you £50, £100, £1,000?? Many thanks in advance for all your comments.

How's about giving purchasing managers the tools and authority to assess the risk any prospective contractor will create for your business? Little or no risk: let them get on with it; significant risk: do something about controlling the risk. I have just spent a chunk of my time today trying to assist a small (low risk) contractor who wants to be "approved" by a larger contracting organisation and lacks the necessary paperwork. A waste of time for all concerned and a ticking boxes exercise by somebody who hasn't got a clue why they're doing it, other than their policy requires it. More "H&S gone mad" except it's not the H&S that's mad, it's the badly-thought-out corporate one-size-fits-all policy!.

Hi Lisa, We carry out a critically assessment for all suppliers. Critical or high risk suppliers are subject to intense scrutiny, follow up, audits etc while other non critical or low risk suppliers would come under far less scrutiny depending on ther outcome of the assessment.

Many thanks to all for replying, as usual all very helpful remarks, has definitely made me re-think things. Warm regards Lisa

Hi Lisa. Good that you are thinking this through, as there's nothing more pointless than paper-heavy contractor systems being applied across the board. I have never found it workable to have 'one system' for contractor evaluation. Instead, use individual 'risk assessment' at it's most fundamental - as others have already posted. 'How bad could this be?' leads naturally to 'so what do we need to think about / check?'. You will end up with a slightly more resource-hungry method, requiring this for every contract, and flexibility from you (what you are paid for, applying your skills) but the quality of results will be worth it. And you will surely create a better organisational relationship with contractors who will appreciate the individual consideration, and for some, the cut in beaurocracy. Working with an interested procurement person - if you can find one - you could possibly coach them to be able to take this on, although I do believe that this is an important role for H&S. The most I have ever been able to achieve is that procurement do at least inform and liaise with H&S on contractor issues in advance. Where procurement are involved - not always in some organisations, where contractors are engaged in a variety of ways.