05 Apr Contractor Qualification Gets Real Results
The data doesn’t lie: contractors tend to be more vulnerable to at-work injuries and fatalities than full-time workers. According to statistics of injuries over the past few years, over 15% were suffered by contracted workers. Why? Part of it could be because contractors are often brought in to perform higher risk tasks with little oversight or supervision. But, it’s also because contractors tend to be left out in the cold when it comes to health and safety programs. Contractor qualification can help address these issues. Here, we’re going to help you understand how it does that and why it’s important.
Understanding the Need for Contractor Qualification
Prequalifying contractors can be a somewhat lengthy process. It involves a number of variables and it’s not uncommon for health and safety to simply be overlooked. In fact, a study of this very issue found that environment, health, and safety ranked 10th or lower on the list of important qualification criteria.
Ranking safety so low is unfortunate because contract workers represent an inherent health and safety risk for a handful of reasons:
- Contractors may cut corners or engage in unsafe practices because of financial pressure or upcoming deadlines. They may also continue working with minor injuries due to fear of losing the job, which further increases their risk for injury.
- Work briefs and other documents are often unclear.
- Contractors have little opportunity to be involved in safety initiatives.
- Safety standards for contract workers are often loosely enforced, resulting in lower safety performance.
- Companies are often disorganized when it comes to contract workers. Therefore, resulting in ineffective training, supervision, and communication.
Contractor qualification offers businesses an opportunity to develop strong relationships and employ good safety practices.
Why Prequalifying Is Worth the Effort
Prequalifying contractors can be a bit of a tedious and time-consuming process but it does result in big payoffs for health and safety and beyond. Here’s why.
Workers with a Proven Safety Record Are on Your Worksites
Qualifying contractors is a bit like installing a security gate at the entrance to your facility: it’s intended to keep those who shouldn’t be there off the site.
A rigorous qualification process ensures that you work with contractors who have demonstrated good safety practices and have an understanding of how to address or mitigate worksite risks. This not only keeps your workers safe but also keeps your reputation as a safety-first company intact.
Typically, contractors who go through a qualification process out-perform their peers significantly. There are lots of contractors out there vying for work and the qualification process is an effective way find the best.
Get the Highest Quality Contractors
It’s not uncommon for contractors to attend pre-bid meetings looking for work, only to disappear after learning they will be subject to a strong qualification evaluation. They know they won’t meet the safety standards, so remove themselves from the bid. Therefore, you are left with a selection of contractors who are confident in their safety standards and practices and eager to show you why.
Opportunity for Education
Some smaller contractors may not understand all of the safety requirements. That doesn’t mean they are not qualified to do the work. It does mean you need to help get them up to speed before the work starts.
The qualification process provides the opportunity to scrutinize a contractor’s practices and identify the areas that need improvements. The process also allows you to educate them with OSHA standards and safety protocols.. Your safety qualification process is like a safety coach – always mentoring and helping.
Beyond Your Own Business
Another benefit of a strong qualification program is that it can improve safety throughout your community. Contractors adjust their safety standards and practices to meet your requirements. They also bring those improvements to other businesses and job sites in the local area. Contractors will be proud to name you as a client and other business owners will be confident in hiring those who have worked with you in the past.
Conclusion
Qualifying contractors is about keeping everyone on your job site safe. But it is also about good business sense. If you’re hiring contractors, take the time to qualify them thoroughly. You won’t regret it.
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