In its widest sense the term ‘’contractor‘’ does not merely refer to building contractors. It includes any individual or company who enters premises to fulfil a contractual obligation between the property owner or their managing agent and a third party company.
Likely ‘’contractors’’ could include:
- Builders/joiners etc
- Telephone engineers
- Window cleaners
- Contract cleaners
- Plumbers
- Electrical/mechanical maintenance engineers
- Grounds maintenance/gardeners
When selecting contractors, health and safety aspects must be taken into account as well as their ability or competence to complete the work. Many organisations have a policy of only using contractors from an ‘Approved List’ of firms whose capability, quality and health and safety performance are already known.
The selection procedure should also include a check that the contractor has adequate employers’ liability and public liability insurance cover.
Each trade association will have a website which contain their approved members.
