Procurement health and safety

How health and safety affects procurement

Wirral Council is committed to ensuring the health, safety and welfare of its employees and that of all others affected by their undertakings. Contracts to supply goods or services will only be awarded to contractors who can satisfy Council requirements in terms of resources required and their health and safety competence. Our standard Pre-Qualification Questionnaire/Tender documentation requires applicants to answer health and safety questions to demonstrate compliance
with current health and safety legislation including:

  • Commitment to the health and safety of its employees, clients and others
  • Up to date health and safety policies and procedures
  • Adequate risk assessment procedures
  • Adequate system of monitoring and reporting accidents, incidents and ill health
  • Access to competent health and safety advice

We will aim to ensure that contractors appointed by us have adequate health and safety policies and procedures in place. Where appropriate, prospective tenderers will have to submit a copy of their health and safety policy (as required by Section 2(3) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974), together with any codes of safe work practices issued to employees.

Contracts are monitored to ensure compliance with contract standards and health and safety requirements.

The degree to which health and safety requirements are specified within documentation will depend on the nature and level of risks which arise from any particular contract. The amount and level of the information required will vary according to the nature of the procurement. Each procurement activity should be treated proportionately to the health and safety risks which arise from the contract on a case by case basis. Potential risks should be assessed and businesses must provide evidence to demonstrate that their organisation actively promotes and manages health and safety.

Approved Suppliers

The Council has adopted “Constructionline”, the Department of Trade & Industry’s (DTI) register of construction contractors and consultants, as a method of procuring all construction works.  However, it cannot be used where the procurement of work exceeds any applicable threshold under European Legislation – currently £3,927,260 for works contracts and £156,442 for services. Additionally, as part of the Council’s commitment to improve health and safety standards, contractors will need to demonstrate their health and safety competence through registration with CHAS (the Contractor Health and Safety Assessment Scheme).

Constructionline

Constructionline, established and owned by the DTI, is the Government approved register of pre-qualified contractors and consultants. Constructionline is strongly supported across the industry and has received the endorsement of trade associations and industry umbrella organisations.

CHAS (the Contractor Health and Safety Assessment Scheme)

The Contractors Health and Safety (CHAS) Assessment Scheme is a national database of contractors who have demonstrated adequate health and safety compliance and management standards and is available for any public sector organisation to use in their pre-qualification process for contractor application for approved/select list or short-listing. It provides information relating to the health and safety element of the application only.

Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974

The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, applies to all work activities and requires employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of:

  • Their employees
  • Other people at work on their site, including contractors
  • Others who come into contact with work activities, including service users, pupils, visitors and members of the public.

Contractors may also have to comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and other health and safety legislation.  Clearly when contractors are appointed, the activities of different employers do interact, so cooperation and communication are needed to make sure all parties can meet their obligations.

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, require all employees to carry our risk assessments in order to identify and evaluate hazards, and devise and implement control measures. These regulations specifically state that where two or more employees share a workplace, whether on a temporary basis or a permanent basis, each employer shall:

  • Co-operate with other employers
  • Take reasonable steps to coordinate between other employers to comply with legal requirements
  • Take reasonable steps to inform other employers where there are risk to health and safety

Construction (Design and Management Regulations) 2007

The Construction (Design and Management Regulations), revised in 2007, apply to:

  • New-build construction
  • Alteration, maintenance and renovation of a structure
  • Site clearance
  • Demolition and dismantling of a structure
  • Temporary works

Where the work lasts more than 30 days or involves more than 500 person days of work
Design work regardless of the duration or number of people involved