A question we get asked a lot is how often should we be inducting a contractor to the same premise.
The answer is actually quite simple. But - yes there is always a but, lets create some context first.
The reason we induct contractors (or anyone for that matter) is typically to make them aware of the risks and controls; where they can / cannot go; gain an understanding of what risks they bring; emergency management; and what happens if there is an incident.
We can bypass inductions if and only if we accompany the person at all times and that we have the knowledge of the above items. This of course is not very practical and defeats the purpose of using contractors. We do not typically chaperone anyone do we?
If a contractor is a frequent visitor i.e. sparky who comes once per month, we would typically induct yearly in a formal capacity. This would include vetting the contractor as covered in our last blog. We would also review them annually.
On each individual visit we would still do some type of induction. The purpose is two-fold. Firstly, so that we know they are on site. This is rather important in case of an emergency. Secondly, we still need to cover off any specific risks that may be present on the day and any risks they bring.
So, the answer is every time and yearly.
