Posted By Dave Morris
Can anybody help with advice on the following:
We have a design engineer starting with the company who is a self employed Design Engineer. He is contracted by our company to work for us on our premises. Is it prudent to expect him to provide public liability insurance and sign the company's Contractor code of Practice in his role of a design engineer? Current policy requires all contractors who come onto site to provide such documents although it may be seen as going over the top for this low risk activity. The designer is involved with electrical controls which are subject to BEAB approval.

Posted By David Bannister
Dave, you likely have an expectation that your contractor is competent and to have effective risk management systems in place. This would include appropriate financial backup in the event that he makes an error or omission so that you may be compensated for your loss. Unless he is a lottery winner that would normally be in the form of public liability insurance and professional indemnity insurance.

It is therefore reasonable that you are shown evidence that this is adequate and in force.