Q & A: How to Set Safety Expectations with Contractors

Question: “What is the best way to convey safety expectations to contractors working at my site?”

Answer: Communication. I’ve got some thoughts on where to start…

• Working safely needs to be a condition of employment and part of performance evaluation. Write the necessary policies and procedures or revisit them with your contractors, and hold those folks accountable. First, you’ve got to have something in place to hold them accountable for, of course.
• My suggestion is to start with a meeting for each contractor, to set expectations. You never know what you’ll discover after starting a candid, professional conversation—lack of basic safety training, general hazard awareness, no PPE or broken PPE, etc.?
• Your contractors may need education and perspective realignment so they understand the value of certain safe working behaviors. Start connecting the dots for these workgroups in new ways. Get creative with awareness efforts or outreach.

If what you discover amounts to a plain lack of attention or a willful bending of the rules, then your contractors need a dose of accountability, and that’s where policies and discipline come into place.

If you want to take it a step further? Ask about our Contractor Training Program.

Learn more about workplace safety training.