Occupational Safety, Health, Welfare & Environmental Information for Contractors

1.   GENERAL

The purpose and intent of this document are to ensure that the organization and the Contractor comply with all relevant statutory requirements regarding occupational safety, health, welfare, and environmental, rules legislation, and Standard operating procedures (SOPs) and that procedures are in place to achieve this objective and safeguard the safety, health, and welfare of all workforce on or about the project and protect the environment.

1)-Definitions: The Company/organization means (HSE Documents and/or your Company LLC.) for this current document only. The Contractor means:

• Dealer/merchant/Vendor.
• Sub-contractor.
• Fit-out contractor.
• Outsource Service providers.
• Supplier.
• Statutory utilities

For example, anyone carrying out or managing work on-site who is not a direct employee of the

Company.

2)-Legislation and Regulations: This document, of essential, covers legal requirements in brief only.  Contractors must, therefore, refer to the full text of all relevant legislation and regulations. The Company/organization accepts no responsibility for any errors or omissions herein.

2.   RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CONTRACTOR

A.   Responsibilities as an Employer

• The Contractor is an Employer of labour and must comply with relevant safety legislation and in particular with the Ministerial Order no. 32 of 1982 on Determination of the Ways and Means to protect Employees against Occupational Hazards, as it applies to Articles 1 to 26
• Federal Law No. 8 of 1980 on Regulation of Labour Relations
• Local Order no. 24 of 1999 on Protection and Development of the Environment.

B.   General Responsibilities

As Employers, Contractors are responsible in law for preventing accidents and protecting the health of their employees, non-employees, and others that they bring to the work site, e.g. sub-contractors, hired drivers, etc. Contractors are responsible for the work methods they employ and for the plant and equipment that they bring to the site. They must provide adequate preventive and protective measures etc.  And any Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) necessary for the protection of their employees. Contractors are required to have safety procedures which must identify the hazards of their work, they must assess the risks, and they must communicate these hazards and risks to their employees and to others who may be affected by their work on the site. The contractor must specify how Safety, Health, and Welfare is to be secured; the arrangements and resources, and the name of the persons responsible in each case. The Contractor must provide this information at initial HSE Induction and ongoing toolbox talks, in a form, manner, and language that is likely to be understood.

C.    Responsibilities for Co-operation and Co-ordination

All Contractors are required to share information regarding risks and to cooperate in a safety program for the site. Coordination of safety on site is carried out by the Company. Contractors must cooperate in this coordination. Contractors and their employees must comply with the safety & health rules developed for the project. The Contractor must communicate all job-specific method statements/risk assessments, safe operating procedures, emergency procedures, and first aid arrangements to their employees before they commence work, following any change to activities or at least annually.

D.      Detailed Responsibilities Regulation:

The Contractor must comply with the Regulations by:

• Before commencement on-site provide their relevant safety management documentation as specified to the Company
• Promptly provide the Company with any information which is likely to affect the health and safety of any person at work on the project site.
• Promptly provide the Company with any information which might justify a review of the Safety and Health Plan.
• Ensure that all persons under their direct control on-site who carry out the following duties have current and valid Training and Certification documents following the regulations:

1. Scaffolding / Mobile Tower
2. Confined space entry and rescue
3. Hoist / Man Basket Hoists / BMU’
4. MEWPs (Scissor lift & Cherry pickers)
5. Abrasive Wheels
6. Woodworking machinery
7. Oxygen / Fuel / Gas cutting
8. Demolition
9. First Aid at Work
10. Abseiling/Rope access work (IRATA)
11. Fire Warden (Emergency Procedures and Basic Fire-Fighting)
12. Security
13. Forklift truck and all other lifting machinery
14. Handling/use of chemicals (cleaning material/chemical preparations as used in the company etc.)

• Written verification of all training must be held by the contractor and copies given to the Company as and when required.
• Ensure that a competent Safety Officer is appointed to coordinate health
  safety for contractor personnel.
• Take into account any directions of the Company.

Co-operate with the Company:

• Co-operate and coordinate with other Employers on site.
• Co-operate with arrangements for checking safety implementation on site.
• Co-operate with measures to restrict entry on-site.
• Provide the Company with information and copies of the relevant forms submitted to the relevant authorities concerning any accident or dangerous occurrence which is required to be notified to the Authority.

E.       Other Legislation and Codes of Practice:

The contractor must comply with all other Health, Safety, and Environmental legislation as determined by the relevant authorities. Examples include but are not limited to:

• Abu Dhabi Municipality Health & Safety Construction Codes of Practice Manuals.
• Occupational Health and Safety Abu Dhabi Regulatory Framework (OSHAD).
• Abu Dhabi Regulations for Electrical Installations – 1980.
• Department of Occupational Health Regulations.
• General Authority for Health Services Guidelines.
• Department of Public Works (Abu Dhabi Municipality).
• Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi.
• Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA) Inspection Regulations.
• National Building Code / Guidelines.
• Motor Vehicles: Transport Authority Regulations.
• Safety Guidelines about Petroleum Products and Explosives.
• Guidelines of Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council.
• UAE Fire & Life Safety Code of Practice and Civil Defense guidelines.

F.       Subcontract Agreement:

The Contractor is bound by contract to the terms of the Agreement for Sub-Contracted Services. Nothing in this document relieves the contractor of any of the obligations contained elsewhere in the Subcontract Agreement.

Safety, Health, Welfare & Environmental Specification for Contractors

1.    GENERAL

a.   This Safety, Health, Welfare & Environment Specification forms an integral part of the quotation and contract of the Contractor. This document forms part of the Agreement for Sub-Contracted Services.

b.   The Contractor’s price includes all costs associated with complying with this specification.

 

2.    SPECIFIED ARRANGEMENTS FOR CO-ORDINATION:

a.   Contractors HSE dedicated persons:

• The Contractor shall nominate a competent HSE representative who will be responsible for all contractor health, safety, and environmental matters on site.
• The Contractor will provide details of this nominated HSE representative, and the nominated HSE representative will sign that section as an acknowledgment of their understanding and undertaking to be fully responsible for all contractor HSE matters on site.

 

b.   The duties of the contractor’s HSE representatives are:

• Acting as the focal point for the Company in respect of safety, health & environmental matters on site.
• Carrying out the tasks as specified in this document.
• Coordinating the work of the Contractor and of third parties in so far as it comes under the responsibility of the Contractor.
• Ensuring all contractor employees and their third parties comply with all Contractor HSE standards, rules and guidelines, Company HSE guidelines, HSE legislation, and codes of practice, by applying safe systems of work.

c.    Site Safety Co-ordination Meetings:

The Contractors' HSE representative will attend site safety coordination meetings arranged by the Company. There shall be a start-up meeting before the Contractor commences work on site.

d.   Co-operate with the Company:

The Contractor will follow the directions of the Company as regards health, safety, welfare, and the environment on the project.

e.    Co-operate with Others:

The Contractor will actively cooperate with the Company, other contractors, and third parties to optimally manage all health, safety, and environmental matters on the project site.

 

f.     Protect Common Safety Barriers, etc.:

The Contractor will request permission from the Company to change or remove any safety provisions, such as railings, scaffolds, ladders, covers of openings, safety nets, fences, hoardings, etc. This concerns all provisions which, when removed, result in danger for others. This applies irrespective of whose provisions these are.

 

g.   Co-ordinate own Sub-contractors:

The Contractor will ensure that his sub-contractors, his employees, and their employees are familiar with and comply with the co-ordination and co-operation agreements in force on the project and the specifications in this document and will make agreements with his subcontractors and suppliers regarding:

• The coordination of activities
• The measures to be taken
• Supervision of the implementation and compliance with agreements and measures.

3.    SPECIFIED REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CONTRACTOR’S WORK

A.   Hazards and Preventive Measures:

The Contractor will identify the hazards involved in the work and the preventive and protective measures necessary. Hazard identification, risk assessment, and job safety analysis is intended to identify in advance the health & safety hazards and risks involved in the work. The safe system of working, preventive measures, protective measures, inspection, and contingency measures are to be laid down by the Contractor. These are to be submitted to the Company as an integral part of the Contractor’s Method Statements and Risk Assessments. A documented Safe System of Work (Safety Plan) shall be produced where activities are not covered under the general Method Statement and Risk Assessment sheet, e.g., out-of-sequence work, or for minor work activities with low-level risk, whereby a detailed Method Statement may not be required. A suggested format “template” for a Safe Plan of Work identifying the hazards, safety measures, and safety resources necessary for minor jobs or tasks is available on request from (Organization/your company) Management.

 

B.   Work Methods and Protective Measures

The Contractors' work methods must take account of the hazards and risks, eliminate them if possible, and/or arrange measures to contain them. The Contractor is responsible for providing such safeguards as are necessary concerning his particular work.  For example, use physical protective safeguards [(secure scaffolds, edge barriers, or the like) and/or personal protective equipment (safety harnesses, goggles, gloves or the like) as appropriate to the hazards and risks involved. The Contractor will include measures to prevent danger to third parties and damage to the environment.  Third parties are all persons, including members of the public, other than the Contractor’s own and seconded employees. The Contractor will inform (your organization) at an early stage of any dangers to third parties or potential environmental impacts. The Contractor must provide detailed Job Specific Method Statements when required by (your organization). The contractor HSE representative is responsible for ensuring that all hazards and risks are identified and HSE control measures are implemented in full.

Note: Your Organization/Company (HSE Team and Management) will act in an advisory role “ONLY”, about contractor health and safety, the responsibility for managing health and safety rests solely with the contractor and their appointed HSE representative.

 

C.   Contractors Personnel:

1.       Induction:

The Contractor shall ensure that all his site operatives and management are given an induction covering the applicable rules, regulations, emergency procedures, and specific health and safety hazards and control measures, on-site on their first working day and before them starting work. Records of Inductions and registration of those present are required.

2.       Tool Box Meetings:

The Contractor shall organize his own Health & Safety Toolbox Meetings and shall address current and upcoming risks and other topics relevant and relating to the project. Records of meetings and registration of those present are required.

D.   Site Safety Rules:

The Contractors employees must adhere to the Site HSE Rules developed by (Your Organization/Company) for the project.

 

E.    Disciplinary Procedures:

(Your Organization/Companies) operates a disciplinary procedure on site for those in breach of site safety rules and procedures, following current HSE practices.  The Contractor shall ensure that all his site personnel are aware of and comply with all rules and procedures on the project.

 

F.    Safety Representatives

Safety Representatives are to be appointed by the Contractor for the duration of their work on-site.  This representative must attend the HSE Committee Meeting where required.

 

G.   Contractors Plant, Tools, and Equipment:

Plants, tools, and equipment must be in a good, safe, and environmentally sound state of maintenance and comply with the applicable Safety, Health, and Environmental regulations, and legal stipulations and standards. The Contractor will have the required Certificates for hoisting and lifting equipment and another plant before the plant or equipment is put into use on the site and persons using/operating them will have the appropriate training.

 

H.   Personal Protective Equipment: [PPE]

The Contractor will supply his personnel with all necessary PPE as identified in their risk assessment.  The use of the following PPE is obligatory at all the Company’s locations at all times:

• An approved safety helmet
• Safety boots with a steel toecap and midsole
• An approved Hi-Vis vest
• Approved safety glasses
• Other  PPE  as  designated  in  the  Site  Safety  Method  Statements/  Risk
• Assessments/ Safe Work Plan

I.     Restricted Working:

Certain jobs on-site are restricted to authorized persons only, e.g. Machinery operators, Scaffold erection & dismantling, BMU operators, use of burning gear, etc. The Contractor must enforce parallel procedures for his workforce.

 

J.     Work Permits

Work Permit procedures apply on the project for general access and certain activities, e.g. hot works, confined space entry, fire system isolation, etc.  The Contractor must comply fully, with any such procedures.

 

K.   Dangerous Substances, Waste Management

• The Contractor will ensure that their suppliers provide material safety data sheets (SDS) for all dangerous substances.
• Contractor employees and other third-party personnel are to be instructed about the risks and measures to be taken based on the information given in the SDS before the use of dangerous substances.
• The Contractor will provide their own secure, well-ventilated, and identified storage facility following the legal regulations and SDS and shall provide spill collection, containment bonding, and fire extinguishing facilities.
• Industrial and hazardous wastes produced by the Contractor will be stored separately following legal regulations and SDS.  The storage facilities will be marked to show for which waste the storage is intended.
• The Contractor is responsible for the removal of all waste he produces following the Waste Management Acts and regulations and local authority requirements.
• Should the Contractor fail to remove the waste then the Company may do so and the cost will be charged to the Contractor.

L.    Environmental Protection

The Contractor shall ensure that no pollution or damage to the environment occurs as a result of their activities and will comply with the Company Environmental Management Plan and Procedures. Control measures shall be implemented to minimize emissions, particularly to watercourses and groundwater, and to prevent adverse impacts to any retained/ protected species or habitat in or adjacent to the project.    Where control measures have been provided by the Company the Contractor shall make use of such facilities as appropriate with the Company, and shall not inhibit their use by the Company or other Contractors.  For example, sediment ponds/ tanks, drip trays, water pumps, dust mitigation equipment, and dust/ noise/ vibration/ water quality monitoring equipment.

M. Emergency Preparedness

• The Contractor shall, in advance, define and submit the necessary provisions and procedures to minimize injuries and/or damage in the event of possible emergencies, geared to his activities.
• The Contractor shall provide any equipment required to implement such procedures.
• Before the start of the work, the Contractor will state which employees have been trained in emergencies. This refers to trained personnel for First Aid, company emergency response and firefighting, rescue, etc.
• The Contractor will ensure compatibility with the Company’s Emergency Procedures and will comply fully with the Company’s Emergency Response plans as directed.
• The contractor will ensure that the company’s emergency procedures for the project are communicated to all their management and employees before them starting work on the project via HSE induction, and on an ongoing basis via regular toolbox meetings.

4.    SUPERVISION AND INSPECTION

      

  I.   General

The Contractor shall provide effective supervision to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations, with the Site Safety Rules and other measures determined by (Your Company).

      II.   Inspections

The Contractor shall conduct a worksite inspection and make a written report at least once every two weeks based on an inspection checklist.  The report will include the findings, corrective measures, etc.   He shall also conduct daily housekeeping checks.

 

5.    RECORDS, ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS

 A- Records

The Contractor shall have records available on site for inspection by the Company, which includes the necessary documents, forms, reports, Inspection Checklists, register of dangerous substances, etc.

B- Reporting of Accidents and Incidents

The Contractor is obliged to report to (Your Company):

• Dangers reported by his employees (e.g. in the regular toolbox meetings).
• Accidents, near misses, and property damage (orally, and in writing within 24 hrs.)
• Environmental incidents and near misses (orally, and in writing within 24 hours).

6.    SANCTIONS

If the Contractor or his personnel fail to fulfill agreements and obligations or fail to fulfill them satisfactorily, despite a written warning from the Company, the Company will, in addition to other remedies available under the Subcontract Agreement, be entitled to take one or more of the following measures:

• Have matters been rectified at the expense of the Contractor?
• Refuse the Contractor’s personnel access to the site.  In such a case the Contractor must provide replacement personnel immediately.

7.    SUB-CONTRACTOR DESIGN

Where the Sub-Contract involves any design then the Contractors designer must:

• Take into account the general Principles of Prevention regarding Health and Safety.
• Take into account the codes and regulations regarding fire and emergency.
• Communicate the health and safety aspects of the design to and where necessary discuss them with (Your Company).
• Provide (Your Company) with the appropriate information concerning any particular risks which may be associated with the project.
• Take account of any relevant directions/advice from (Your Company)/(HSE) Department

 

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Occupational Safety, Health, Welfare & Environmental Information for Contractors