Model Policy

Self-employed Workers General Statement

The organisation will take the necessary measures to ensure the health and safety of any self-employed worker in its employment. Any problems connected to self-employed workers should be reported to a responsible person so that remedial action can be taken. The implementation of this policy requires the co-operation of management and staff, and the person responsible for its implementation is ____________.

Arrangements for Ensuring the Health and Safety of Workers

nder s.! of the "ealth and #afety at $ork, etc Act %&'(, the organisation has a duty to conduct its business to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that employees and non-employees are not e)posed to risks to their health and safety. This includes self-employed workers. *n accordance with regulation %+ of the Management of "ealth and #afety at $ork ,egulations %&&&, the organisation must ensure that self-employed workers are pro-ided with information on. the risks to health and safety arising out of that work the measures taken to comply with statutory pro-isions the nominated person in their work area responsible for implementing e-acuation procedures safe working procedures the identity of the competent person taking charge during an emergency any risks notified to the organisation arising from a shared workplace.

Equipment
Plant and equipment / eg temporary access platforms, ladders, personal protecti-e equipment, lifting equipment, internal transport -ehicles and electrical equipment / will not be loaned to self-employed workers unless e)ceptional circumstances pre-ent them from using or hiring their own. 0-en in these circumstances, they will be permitted to use such equipment only with written authority to do so for a specified task and period, pro-ided the equipment is in a sound condition and the they are competent to use it.

Information and Training

As with new staff, self-employed workers will be unaware of the organisation1s procedures. They will need to undergo a certain amount of induction training, though not as e)tensi-ely as for permanent staff. They should be made aware of the e)isting emergency procedures and the action to be taken should an emergency situation arise. #afety training should co-er topics similar to those included on the induction course. Additional topics that could be dealt with include. the work area / what the organisation does, what part of the process or system the employee fits in to and what the employee will be e)pected to do while at work system of work / location of the work area, process information or machinery operation instructions

Model Policy

health sur-eillance / the employee must be pro-ided with information on any health sur-eillance that may be required under statute law site safety rules / in order for self-employed workers to conform to site procedures, site rules must be brought to their attention and in particular any safety rules relating to their department or work area.

Safe System of Work

0nsure that all self-employed workers are competent to undertake the task they ha-e been contracted to do. 0nsure that all self-employed workers are pro-ided with information to enable them to work safely. 0nsure that self-employed workers understand the organisation1s systems of work and the action to take in the e-ent of an emergency. 2eep records of all information and training gi-en to self-employed workers. $here necessary, conduct health sur-eillance on self-employed workers prior to commencement of employment.

Summary Policy Statement

All employers ha-e a duty to pro-ide self-employed workers with training and information on the organisation1s procedures and systems prior to starting work. 0mployers must ensure that these workers are competent to do the 3ob. The information should contain details of the systems of work and action to be taken in the e-ent of an emergency. $here necessary, self-employed workers should recei-e health sur-eillance before and during their time of employment.

4 $olters 2luwer 5 26 7imited. This article was correct at the date of publication. *t is intended as an aid and cannot be e)pected to replace specific professional ad-ice and 3udgment. 8o liability for errors or omissions will be accepted. *t is the responsibility of those using the information to ensure it complies with the law at the time of use and that it is used in line with rele-ant rules and regulations go-erning the sub3ect matter in question.