Contractors Working on Site
Policy
At Test Medical Centre Cornerstone, we may engage contractors to carry out work at our facility. We consult, cooperate, and coordinate activities with the contractor to ensure work and services are planned and provided safely. As the PCBU, our organisation is responsible for ensuring that contractors and subcontractors follow safe work practices while working at our facility.
Contractors are considered workers under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, and can include subcontractors, and employees of a contractor and subcontractor. Contractors may also be a 
person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) and may share responsibility with the organisation for health and safety.
Explanation
As the PCBU (Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking), the organisation responsible for operating the practice has a primary duty of care for everyone at Test Medical Centre Cornerstone (Health and Safety at Work Act, s 36). The organisation is likely to be a company, sole trader, or trust.
This means the organisation must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable:
- the health and safety of workers (staff, allied health professionals, volunteer workers, and contractors)
- that the health and safety of others who may be affected by our practice's operations (including patients, whānau, and visitors) is not put at risk.
The organisation ensures, as far as is reasonably practicable, that it provides and maintains:
- a work environment that is without risks to health and safety
- safe plant and structures (e.g. general equipment and appliances, vehicles, furniture and fittings, tools, safety, and cleaning equipment)
- safe systems of work.
The organisation also ensures, as far as is reasonably practicable:
- the safe use, handling, and storage of plant, substances, and structures
- adequate facilities (including access to the facilities) for the welfare of workers
- information, training, instruction, and supervision to protect everyone from risks to health and safety arising from our operations
- the monitoring of worker health and workplace conditions to prevent injury or illness arising from our operations.
See Health and Safety at Work Act Subpart 2 – Duties of PCBUs
We have a primary duty of care to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers (including contractors). We, as the PCBU, ensure that contractors and subcontractors working in our facility operate safely.
Definition
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act (s 22), "reasonably practicable" has a specific meaning. A person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers, and that other persons are not put at risk by its work.
Risks that arise from work must be eliminated "so far as is reasonably practicable". If a risk can’t be eliminated, it must be minimised "so far as is reasonably practicable". This means that we:
- identify risks
- consider how likely risks are
- take appropriate action that is proportionate to the injury or illness that could occur
- implement well-known and effective sector practices
- involve staff in identifying and controlling risks.
See Meaning of reasonably practicable (Health and Safety at Work Act 2015) and Reasonably practicable (WorkSafe)
Explanation
As the PCBU (person conducting a business or undertaking), the organisation responsible for operating Test Medical Centre Cornerstone has a primary duty of care for everyone at Test Medical Centre Cornerstone (Health and Safety at Work Act, s 36).
This means the PCBU is primarily responsible for the health and safety of workers (including clinical and non-clinical staff, volunteer workers, and contractors), and others who may be affected by the practice's operations. To meet its primary duty of care, the PCBU does what is reasonably practicable to provide and maintain a safe environment, and works to eliminate or minimise health and safety risks.
Health and Safety at Work Act s 36 – Primary duty of care
Before a contractor starts work, we:
- may request to see documentation of contractor health and safety plans and how they will manage their own health and safety while working at our facility
- may check that clinical contractors are competent and appropriately qualified
- provide an appropriate health and safety induction covering safety and emergencies.
Also see Health and Safety Training and Induction.
We take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure the safety of contractors while working at our facility.
We may check contractor work at any time and will stop work if it is unsafe, or if the contractor is not complying with health and safety requirements. We are not responsible for any loss, damage, or injury sustained by contractors or others who are not complying with our health and safety requirements.
Contractor responsibilities
Contractors, subcontractors, and their employees must meet their duties as workers. This includes following their own health and safety management systems to ensure they carry out their work safely.
Definition
Everyone who works at the practice, including employees (clinical and non-clinical), volunteer workers, and contractors, is expected to:
- take reasonable care for their own health and safety
- take reasonable care that their behaviour does not adversely affect the health and safety of other people
- comply, as far as they are reasonably able, with any reasonable instruction given by the practice to allow the practice to comply with their legislative and regulatory obligations
- cooperate with any reasonable policy or procedure the practice has in place relating to health or safety during its operations.
See Health and Safety at Work Act Subpart 3 – Duties of officers, workers, and other persons
Contractors, subcontractors, and their employees should:
- take reasonable care to manage their own health and safety
- take reasonable care to ensure their behaviour does not negatively affect the health and safety of others
- comply with any reasonable instructions given by Test Medical Centre Cornerstone, including:
- following any relevant practice policies or procedures
- reporting any health and safety incidents, risks, or hazards to a staff member.
Contractors should inform us of any:
- hazards and risks that arise from their work
- safety requirements for people who may be affected by their work, e.g. staff, patients, family/whānau.
When required, the contractor supplies any relevant health and safety documentation to the practice (e.g. a site-specific safety plan).
Related policies
Supporting documents