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Managing Contractors

Who is a contractor?

Any individual, company or organisation, other than an employee, engaged by the University to carry out any work for gain or reward. People carrying out work for an organisation on a voluntary basis are considered to be employees for the purposes of health and safety law. Contractors who are employed to undertake contracts which do not involve physical works may not fall within the requirements of this policy.

Sub-Contractors are individuals, companies or organisations employed to undertake works, for gain or reward, by the contractor.

The university's health and safety management arrangements for contractors can be found in the Control of Contractors Procedure 2024.

What are a contractors responsibilities?

Contractors will assume the same responsibilities as the University under Health and Safety statutory laws whilst they are undertaking contracts on its behalf.

They must provide the University with any required information before they can commence working for the University. Where the work will be carried out in University controlled areas and poses significant risks to any person or to University property or to the campus environment then this will include the provision of written risk assessments and / or method statements to clearly describe how the work will be safely carried out. Such works will not be allowed to commence until these have been agreed with the relevant University representative (normally the contact administrator).

Contractors have the necessary competence to safely undertake the work they are employed to carry out and to deliver that work to the required quality and University safety standards. They must do all that is reasonably practicable to comply with all UoN policy and associated policies and procedures.

Contacting the Safety Team

To contact the Health and Safety Team you can use our question form or email us at safety@northampton.ac.uk