Proper vetting and orientation are some ways employers can keep their contract workers safe, according to a report by the the Campbell Institute at the National Safety Council in Itasca, Ill.
The report lays out a safety roadmap for employers to effectively handle the complexities of contractor management. Fourteen Campbell Institute companies contributed real-world experiences and recommended practices to the report, which comes at a time when the number of contract and temporary workers is increasing rapidly.
“Collaboration is the bedrock of all successful partnerships,” said Deborah A.P. Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. “These companies share how they have placed safety at the heart of every project. Their experiences can help other employers establish safe contract relationships that run the gamut, from delivering mail to major construction projects.”
The temporary and contract worker industry has added more jobs in the last three years than any other industry. The rate of injuries among contract and temporary workers has paralleled the rise of the industry, as jobs often carry risks that workers are not trained to handle. Members of the Campbell Institute identified best practices within each of the five identified steps of the contractor lifecycle that, when followed, can help lessen risk and lead to mutually beneficial partnerships:
• Prequalification — vetting contractors based on their safety statistics and proven track records.
• Pre-job task and risk assessment — evaluating the inherent risks involved in the work that contract workers would be expected to perform.
• Training and orientation — providing the instruction and tools necessary so workers can do their jobs correctly and safely.
• Job monitoring — assessing work throughout the contract term.
• Post-job evaluation — rating the contractor based on safety, customer service and quality of finished work.
The report lays out a safety roadmap for employers to effectively handle the complexities of contractor management. Fourteen Campbell Institute companies contributed real-world experiences and recommended practices to the report, which comes at a time when the number of contract and temporary workers is increasing rapidly.
“Collaboration is the bedrock of all successful partnerships,” said Deborah A.P. Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. “These companies share how they have placed safety at the heart of every project. Their experiences can help other employers establish safe contract relationships that run the gamut, from delivering mail to major construction projects.”
The temporary and contract worker industry has added more jobs in the last three years than any other industry. The rate of injuries among contract and temporary workers has paralleled the rise of the industry, as jobs often carry risks that workers are not trained to handle. Members of the Campbell Institute identified best practices within each of the five identified steps of the contractor lifecycle that, when followed, can help lessen risk and lead to mutually beneficial partnerships:
• Prequalification — vetting contractors based on their safety statistics and proven track records.
• Pre-job task and risk assessment — evaluating the inherent risks involved in the work that contract workers would be expected to perform.
• Training and orientation — providing the instruction and tools necessary so workers can do their jobs correctly and safely.
• Job monitoring — assessing work throughout the contract term.
• Post-job evaluation — rating the contractor based on safety, customer service and quality of finished work.
