Procurement, contractors and outsourcing
Plain-language summary
Making sure what you buy, the contractors you bring in, and the work you outsource all meet your safety requirements.
What the clause is really asking
Hazards often arrive through the gate with a supplier, a contractor or an outsourced service. The clause requires you to control procurement so purchased goods and services are safe, to coordinate with contractors so their work does not endanger your people or theirs, and to make sure outsourced processes you rely on are controlled. The intent is that your safety standards extend beyond your own payroll to everyone whose work affects your site.
What auditors look for
Auditors look at how you select and manage contractors, asking for evidence you checked their safety competence, briefed them on site hazards, and monitored their work. They check that safety requirements appear in purchasing, for example specifying guarded machinery or safety data sheets. Outsourced activities are tested for who controls the safety risk.
Typical evidence
Contractor pre-qualification and safety records; site induction records for contractors; safety requirements in purchase specifications and orders; safety data sheets for chemicals procured; outsourcing agreements defining OH&S responsibilities; contractor work monitoring records.
How to comply — recommendations
Vet contractors for safety competence before they start, induct them on your hazards and rules, and monitor their work while on site. Write safety requirements into your purchasing so you buy guarded, compliant equipment and receive safety data sheets for chemicals. For outsourced work, make clear in the agreement who controls each OH&S risk. Treat contractors as part of your safety system, not outsiders.
Common nonconformities
Contractors not vetted for safety competence before starting; no site hazard induction for contractors and visitors; safety requirements absent from purchase orders; chemicals received without safety data sheets; outsourced work with no clarity on who manages the OH&S risk; contractor work not monitored.
Related clauses
ISO 9001 8.4; ISO 14001 8.1
Qlause provides interpretive guidance only and is not a substitute for the standard. Refer to your licensed copy of the relevant standard for the authoritative text.