I met a H&S specialist last week working for a main contractor who was rather miffed with me when I said that a SSSP is not specifically a legal requirement. It is only a tool (albeit a generally accepted tool) to manage site risk.
They were adamant that it was a legal requirement and that we had to do one. I asked them the purpose of a SSSP and sadly was told that it was a way for them to control the subbies.
"Errr... control the subbies? Really?" I asked. "I thought it was a proactive tool that was used to manage risk - with a particular slant to health & safety". Their response.. "oh yeah, that too".
If that wasn't silly enough I pointed out that our client provides labour to the main contractor. Our workers actually sit underneath their business so they should be providing us with their SSSP and how they are managing their risks on site that our workers will be exposed to. We have no control or influence on the job. Hmmm, let's just say we will get there with a bit more education.
We still see many main contractors push H&S for the wrong reasons. As noted above, to control subbies; with third party Project Managers to satisfy some check list - the tick box warriors; the list goes on.
It would be nice if the focus was on the simple notion of consulting with each other... to co-operate with, and co-ordinate activities. There is definitely no 'D' with those 'C' words - a 'D' for Dictate.
To the bigger players, be nice to your subbies, they may actually surprise you.
