Legionella Risk – Contractor Competency for Schools. – words by Roy Sullivan

 

 

To seek reassurance that a contractor is competent to carry out the work they have been requested to undertake; background checks are essential. Assessing competence is far from easy. Most of the time the Local Authority or school must make judgements based on information provided in the form of a contractor’s response, for example, from a questionnaire.

The following are examples of checks that could be made:

  • Evidence of experience of the type of work required to be done;
  • Health and safety policies and practices are all in place and documented;
  • Recent health and safety performance (accidents and/or prosecutions);
  • Health and safety or job-specific qualifications and skills;
  • Selection procedures for sub-contractors;
  • Health and safety training and supervision provided;
  • Any independent assessment of their competence (e.g., UKASCHAS);
  • Membership of a relevant trade or professional body (e.g., Legionella Control Association (LCA), WaterSafe);
  • The Contractor is on the Council’s ‘approved list’.

Other Considerations

Before the commencement of work, a ‘pre-contract’ meeting should be held at which, all arrangements are finalised, and each party allowed to raise any last-minute queries and to introduce key members of staff.

It may be worthwhile to reinforce all the health and safety issues, including site rules that have been addressed in the earlier stages. Such a meeting may provide an opportunity to review the method statements and risk assessments prepared for the works or project in hand.

When contractors are working on-site, several practical arrangements may have to be given due consideration. This may include: 

 

  • The use of Permit-to-Work systems (working on domestic hot & cold-water systems);
  • Site rules that are required to be adhered to (e.g., identification, sign-in etc);
  • Site access and security (including vehicle movement and parking);
  • Material/equipment storage (including waste materials);
  • Emergency procedures including evacuation and first aid arrangements;
  • Enhanced DBS checks – This is a must-have in schools!

 

A member of staff should be nominated as the person responsible for Contractors (for example, the admin’ Officer or Site Manager). It is to this person to whom a contractor will report both before work commences on site and once it is completed. 

They should also review the standard of the works being delivered regularly to ensure any problems or omissions identified are rectified at the earliest opportunity.

Conclusion

The duty to ensure cooperation between all parties involved in working with schools is absolute, if a contractor is working on the school, you must ensure they are working safely and you must liaise with them through all stages of the work. 

Ensuring the competency of a contractor to carry out water hygiene duties and preventative maintenance in your school is your responsibility. All local authorities will have a Policy or Safety Code for contractors working on education sites, to assist you, which must be followed. Following the guidance as discussed above will ensure you have done everything “reasonable, foreseeable and practical“ when selecting a contractor to work within your school. If you are still unsure or not comfortable in assessing a contractor’s competency to carry out works in your school, the Water Hygiene Centre will be more than happy to assist. If in doubt, please ask!

Words by Roy Sullivan – Senior Consultant – Water Hygiene Centre

For more, visit; https://www.waterhygienecentre.com