Posted on by George Robotham

Contractors Charter

Useful document just sent in by George Robotham – may be useful for establishing and committing to obligations of both the contractor and the company hiring them:

Expectations of Contractors

As a contractor I am committed to work safely at all times and will:

· work in a way to minimise the risk to safety, health of myself and others and ensure that the work I do will not have adverse effects on the and environment

· not undertake tasks for which I am not appropriately licensed, qualified, trained or skilled

· comply at all times with all work instructions and safety procedures

· wear the required personal protective equipment appropriate to the task and site

· ensure that any tool I use is fit for its purpose and used accordingly

· provide information regarding hazards introduced by the work I am to perform eg. MSDS of substances to be used

· have a knowledge of and ensure compliance with all relevant regulations

· report back to the Site Manager if the conditions of work alter or the nature of my job changes

· follow the emergency procedures

· immediately report and injury, loss or incident which occurs as a result of my work

· report any opportunity for safety, health or environmental improvements

I have read and understand the expectations required of me.

Signed:                                                  Name:                                                              Date:

Commitment to your safety

As a company we will clearly indicate our expectations of you and will:

· provide you with a general safety, health and environmental induction to the site including emergency evacuation

· where appropriate provide specific induction and training depending on the scope of the work

· comply with all relevant legislative requirements relating to your safety, health and the environment

· provide you with the relevant information on the hazards associated with the work environment other activities which may impact on the work to be performed

· work with you to ensure that the work can be performed safely

· as required, give you special training on the hazards associated with the work

· where necessary, issue you with work permits and ensure you are fully conversant with the clearance requirements

· listen to your feedback and suggestions for improvements

If any of these conditions are not met then you should cease work and raise it with the person responsible for supervising your work.

Signed:                                                    Name:                                                     Date:

 
George Robotham

George Robotham

George was a Legend in the Safety World who passed away in Sept 2013 but left us with a great legacy
George Robotham
I have worked in OHS for most of my working life, many years in the mining industry including over 10 years in a corporate OHS role with BHP. Since leaving the mining industry I have worked in a variety of safety roles with a variety of employers, large & small, in a variety of industries. I was associated with my first workplace fatality at age 21, the girl involved was young, intelligent, vivacious and friendly. Such a waste! I was the first on the scene and tried to comfort her and tend to her injuries. She said to me “George, please do not let me die” We put her on the aerial ambulance to Rockhampton base hospital where she died the next day. I do not mind telling you that knocked me around for awhile. Since then I have helped my employers cope with the aftermath of 12 fatalities and 2 other life-altering events. The section "Why do Occupational Health & Safety" provides further detail but in summary, poor safety is simply very expensive and also has a massive humanitarian cost. My qualifications include a certificate I.V. in Workplace Training and Assessment, a Diploma in Frontline Management, a Diploma in Training & Assessment Systems, a Bachelor of Education (Adult & Workplace Education) , a Grad. Cert. in Management of Organisational Change and a Graduate Diploma in Occupational Hazard Management. I am currently studying towards a Masters in Business Leadership. Up until recently I had been a Chartered Fellow of the Safety Institute of Australia for 10 years and a member for about 30 years. My interest is in non-traditional methods of driving organisational change in OHS and I have what I believe is a healthy dis-respect for many common approaches to OHS Management and OHS Training. I hold what I believe is a well-founded perception that many of the things safety people and management do in safety are “displacement activities” (Displacement activities are things we do, things we put a lot of energy into, but which when we examine them closely there is no valid reason for doing them). My managerial and leadership roles in OHS have exposed me to a range of management techniques that are relevant to Business Improvement. In particular I am a strong supporter of continuous improvement and quality management approaches to business. I believe leadership is the often forgotten key to excellence in most aspects of life. I hold the Australian Defence Medal and am a J.P.(Qualified). I have many fond memories of my time playing Rugby Union when I was a young bloke.

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