Contractors and suppliers

Which health and safety policies and procedures contractors and suppliers working for Essex County Council need to comply with.

You have a duty to make sure that any contractor or supplier you have chosen is putting health and safety policies and procedures into practice while working on our behalf. 

Contract management policy 

Contractors are used to carry out a range of different types of activities, such as building or construction work, cleaning and maintenance tasks, delivering training and services.  

The management of contractors policy applies to work undertaken by any contractor, commissioned by Essex County Council and council-controlled schools, whatever the nature of the work. 

Management of Contractors Policy (HSP 9.14) (DOCX, 216KB) 

Partnerships responsibilities checklist 

The partnership responsibilities checklist form must be completed by the senior ECC manager responsible for a partnership agreement with another employer or premises owner.   

The content must be agreed with, and signed by, an equivalent representative of the partner organisation. 

Partnerships responsibilities checklist (HSF150) (DOCX, 264KB) 

Monitoring of contractors and third parties 

The monitoring of contractors and third parties policy helps senior managers, clients and contract managers to: 

  • identify where third-party organisations have recently been, or are soon to be, created or appointed to deliver ECC services 
  • consider what types, and degree, of monitoring is appropriate of the third party to adequately control the risk 
  • consider the level of resource needed to discharge the client-side function 
  • select appropriate strategies to maximise the effectiveness of the monitoring (and so control the risk) for the resource used 

Authorisation to work or high-risk permit to work 

The authorisation to work or high-risk permit to work procedure Is a formal process of documenting the checks and communication between those responsible for a premises and a contractor undertaking work on the premises. 

They can only be issued by a person from the premises where the work is to be undertaken and who is authorised to issue the documents.  

The authorisation to work and high-risk permits to work code of practice ensures compliance with health and safety legislation. 

Authorisation to work and high risk permits to work code of practice (HSP 9.22)(DOC, 148KB)