Posted By Ron Hunter Anyone with a nice concise definition of "contractor" they're willing to share? (I'm talking about contractors in the wider sense, not just construction (the CDM legal definition doesn't help me), and 'contractors' as opposed to 'suppliers' of goods and services.) I'm coversant with HSE pub."Working Together - Guidance on Health and Safety for Contractors and Suppliers" and the IOSH Publication: "Global best practices in contractor safety".

Posted By Safe System or: A general contractor is a group or individual that contracts with another organization or individual (the owner) for the construction, renovation or demolition of a building, road or other structure. A general contractor is defined as such if it is the signatory as the builder of the prime construction contract for the project. The general contractor could be worker itself. Workers wages may vary from a few thousands to several millions. A general contractor is responsible for the means and methods to be used in the construction execution of the project in accordance with the contract documents. Said contract documents usually include the contract agreement including budget, the general and special conditions and the plans and specification of the project that are prepared by a design professional such as an architect. A general contractor usually is responsible for the supplying of all material, labor, equipment, (engineering vehicles and tools) and services necessary for the construction of the project. To do this it is common for the general contractor to subcontract part of the work to other persons and companies that specialize in these types of work. These are called subcontractors. General contractors conducting work for government agencies are typically referred to as prime contractors. The responsibilities of a prime contractors working under a contract are essentially identical to those outlined above. In many cases, prime contractors will delegate portions of the contract work to subcontractors. In the United Kingdom and certain former British Commonwealth countries the term 'general contractor' was gradually superseded by 'main contractor' during the early twentieth century. This followed the practice of major professional, trade and consumer organisations issuing standard forms of contract for undertaking the variety of construction works spanning the whole spectrum of the industry. It was and is usual for the term main contractor to be used and defined in all these contract documents, and as a result the term general contractor became an anachronism.[1]

Posted By Linda Westrupp In the wider sense a contractor is a person, company or organisation who undertakes work on behalf of someone else normally within defined parameters stated in a written contract. For instance, public sector organisations have many contractors providing services such as residential care, nursing care, cleaning, catering, waste collection etc. some of these may be companies but some may well be voluntary organisations, charities etc. They obviously have nothing to do with construction but they are still contractors. Hope this helps? Linda

Posted By Warren Fothergill Personally, and not looking at www, I would say a "Contractor is someone who is paid under 'risk transfer' terms (risk management) to perform said duties, whether individual, group, organisation etc.?"

Posted By SteveD-M Not really a definition more a talking point: Contractors: Labour only - hiring a temp or agency who fills an established job role. Follows the existing SSOW etc. for that role. Does not submit individual method statements and risk assessments. Follows exsiting recruitment and slection. Service/work/fabrication - follows SSOW etc based on own risk assessment and method statement with joint RA with company prior to commencing the work. Supplier of goods & materials - due diligence duty of care etc must be followed (SESPA). Not got from Google...

Posted By Richard Altoft agree with Bob. Offer and acceptance makes a contract so a contractor is somewhat bound to supply services under a contract to supply the services rather than under a contract of employment. R

Posted By Bob Shillabeer There are several discriptions given to contractors is several pieces of specific legislation such as the CDM Regulations but the question was about the definition of a contractor. That is covered in the Oxford Dictionary as I have said earlier.

Posted By Safe System simple typo - That would be 'IR35' before everyone starts having a pop at you.

Posted By claret65 A Contractor could be defined as an external organisation with the required skills to complete a specific task.

Posted By Ron Hunter Thanks to all and apologies to Safe System - I was a bit short there. Having a bad day. :-(

Posted By Ron Hunter Thanks for that. Therein lies my problem. I'm trying to use definitions which provide a discrimination between a contractor and a supplier, and that legal term wraps one up in terms of the other. Amongst other things, I'm attempting (by use of definitions) to limit the application of H&S prequalification to "contractors" in terms that others can follow and apply. In limited cases though, there is a degree of overlap with "suppliers of services" who for limited times also come into our premises to do 'work' - even if only to change over sanitary bins. Onwards and upwards!

Posted By Richard Altoft Ron this is not unusual nor is people creating confusion between an order and a contract when in reality both are contracts. I usually look at the "risk" parameters which then allow such divisions as "suppliers of goods", suppliers of services, works contractors, agency or temporary staff perhaps with a short "job" or risk related description such as agency supplied drivers or suppliers of taxi services etc. Overlap occurs such as someone who takes a hundred hours to make something well away from your premises but comes to site for an hour to install it. Is he a supplier or a contractor?? Sometimes a short expression does not work when what you really want is a precise one.

Posted By Lwood Hi Ron, by coincidence I think we are working on the same problem for exactly the same reasons (I suspect). We too have CHAS as an arbiter on 'contractor' selection and the purchasing dept and project managers are asking if every 'contractor' has to be on CHAS (is this happening to you?). I am heading down the road of stating that only those 'contractors' who build, demolish,excavate, modify or otherwise change the structure of a building, ground area or room need to have CHAS. Those contractors who maintain, service or install equipment that has no impact on the building (IT guys as a simple example) need not have CHAS.

Posted By Rodger Alan Ker Ron. This thread has moved on from the original "simple" question. I now get the picture of where it is going. I have some information that might be useful to you if you wish to contact me direct.