Hi, using a contractor (self employed person) to carry out certain work for us on site, work will involve abrasive wheels, manual handling, welding etc. Just found out he doesn't have training (re certificates) in any of the above. Question is - as an abrasive wheel, manual handling instructor, can I (legally) carry out the training, no problem with direct employees, but not sure with a contractor. If we view him "as an employee" - under our direct control - then probably OK to do so. Thoughts appreciated.

Thanks for the reply - don't have a teaching qualification. Presume cant carry out for external employers, but internal (employees / "internal contractors") should be fine. Seem to have read somewhere that for example manual handing covers only employees - cant train outside employer.

The legal duty may rest with the employer e.g. Asbestos Awareness Training, but that does not prevent anyone from providing suitable training and instruction to non-employees as well if they so choose.

This board is brilliant for asking the question if we are not sure, I do it all the time! A thought to add is that in a previous employment I taught IOSH MS & WS and I was cleared to teach NEBOSH Cert & Construction Cert. I had to get approved and evaluated by both organisations and I don't have a 'teaching' qualification to my name! If there was some legal requirement for a teaching qualification both these organisations would have prevented me delivering their courses.

Get yourself a formal day to day training qualification as if ever there is a serious event that ends up in a real court the person who trained the people concerned will be exposed ------ as for organisations that OK people to act as trainers who have no formal training qualifications; well all they want is the money and it will not be those organisations who face a judge ----- And note that a formally trained adult trainer may be able to train the contractor but not their apprentice if that apprentice is <18! ----- and if U can train employees U can train other adults Your business needs to make its mind up as if this is a real contractor then they are resposnsible for their own areas inclusive of training and they should be suitably insured etc. so charge them for any training or other things given to them --- if the company does not make its mind up they can be the employer with tax, and worse the social security*, coming down on them hard [*the SS have more coverage, powers etc. even than the VAT man and make the HSE and most other enforcers look like very small players] my advice it that all contractors irrespective of size should be treated the in the same way and a clear policy be formulated to manage them and accountants + others in a company may like one man bands as its easy for employment areas + tax etc. to be 'managed' but they do not see the full risk that the business faces best of luck

Ray, I don't get what you are saying with regard to the Asbestos Awareness Training? Could you clarify please........it's still early and I may just be being thick!!!!!

My confusion was with the 10% only having asbestos awareness training. We cannot get onto any site without a UKATA (gggrrrrrrr) certificate for every individual

At times I have a need to carry out training for a contractor that arrives to one of our projects. Instead of sending them home for a few days to organise and complete the training, I would carry out the training on behalf of the project but my certificate would state that the training is relevant to the specific project only. If the person receiving the training abides by the legislation related to the training given then there is nothing to worry about, but you should give them all the notes relevant to the training including the notes in legislation.

What I find difficult to rationalise with all this training is how do you gain proof of receiving it? As a rule general training like abrasive wheels, AAT, manual handling, etc, is provided by the employer with usually a paper certificate. The subbies who come to site don't carry these bits of paper with them, t you could ask their head office I suppose - but don't be surprised if they don't have a copy. So a guy(s) turns up on site, what you going to do if he can't evidence his training - ask him to leave? I don't think so.

FireSafety101 - yes you're right; however, if the certs are tied to a specific site (re JamesKennedy) then probably OK.

It is a recommendation and not a legal requirement. The legal requirement is for 'competence' and a qualification is just one way of demonstrating that.