Checking with contractors for insurance, risk assessments, etc
May I ask, please, what you all do about checking that contractors are properly insured, have done H&S risk assessments, are properly trained on their equipment, etc? A recent H&S survey we've had done has asked us to do some of these checks when we have contractors in, but we are wondering what will suffice, and how deep we have to go. Any information on how you all manage this would be appreciated! In friendship, Lorna. Lorna Richardson Premises Coordinator Westminster Quaker Meeting House (Religious Society of Friends) www.westminsterquakers.org.uk www.westminsterquakers.org.uk/room-hire 8 Hop Gardens, off St Martins Lane, London, WC2N 4EH If requiring assistance in an emergency, call 07895 978 092 *Please note I am part-time, and work flexible working hours; I don't expect anyone to respond outside their own normal working hours.*
Hi Lorna, Usually if it's a contractor I'm getting quotes from I ask for their insurance documents as part of that process, as they should be used to supplying these! When I do project work where the contractor has already been chosen by a client, if they're not in the information pack I receive I just ask for it as part of the introductions before they start work along with any contact details and risk assessments etc. I'd expect to see proof of: - Public liability insurance - Professional indemnity insurance - any contracted work specific insurance - such as working at heights for scaffolders/window cleaners or Gas Safe Register for boiler engineers. Sometimes they come bundled with a bunch of other insurance/safety documents. I make sure that the policies seem to cover the work that they're going to do, and are all up to date and that's it. I'm not an insurance expert, so unless I've been told to ask for xxxx I don't - so for the working at heights or gas safety register work the insurance company documents should say that. Even if the contractor doesn't supply them, and they don't have insurance they're still liable of course but it's easier to get damages refunded if there is an insurance company involved. You should ask to see their risk assessments to ensure that you have met all requirements they're presuming you have. Remembering that you have a duty of care to them and should have your own risk assessments for their activities and building access. Yours in peace, Wendrie Heywood she/her MindfulBusinessServices.com Book a meeting with me <https://calendly.com/mindful-business-services> On Tue, 7 May 2024 at 19:58, Westminster Wardens < westminsterwardens@gmail.com> wrote:
May I ask, please, what you all do about checking that contractors are properly insured, have done H&S risk assessments, are properly trained on their equipment, etc?
A recent H&S survey we've had done has asked us to do some of these checks when we have contractors in, but we are wondering what will suffice, and how deep we have to go. Any information on how you all manage this would be appreciated!
In friendship, Lorna.
Lorna Richardson Premises Coordinator
Westminster Quaker Meeting House (Religious Society of Friends) www.westminsterquakers.org.uk www.westminsterquakers.org.uk/room-hire 8 Hop Gardens, off St Martins Lane, London, WC2N 4EH If requiring assistance in an emergency, call 07895 978 092
*Please note I am part-time, and work flexible working hours; I don't expect anyone to respond outside their own normal working hours.* _______________________________________________ wardenship mailing list -- wardenship@lists.quaker.eu.org To unsubscribe send an email to wardenship-leave@lists.quaker.eu.org
Throw the question back to the people who said you should. Ask them for the how? If they say you should, they will know how and what to ask! I can assure my clients that I have 'small traders' insurance and I take care not to go beyond its limitation (height working and 'flames' indoors - on the rare occasions if I need to do soldering it do it outside and then connect in with compression joints sort of thing) William Waddilove (Coventry Meeting premises etc and HLD Maintenance Services) On Tue, 7 May 2024 at 20:03, Westminster Wardens < westminsterwardens@gmail.com> wrote:
May I ask, please, what you all do about checking that contractors are properly insured, have done H&S risk assessments, are properly trained on their equipment, etc?
A recent H&S survey we've had done has asked us to do some of these checks when we have contractors in, but we are wondering what will suffice, and how deep we have to go. Any information on how you all manage this would be appreciated!
In friendship, Lorna.
Lorna Richardson Premises Coordinator
Westminster Quaker Meeting House (Religious Society of Friends) www.westminsterquakers.org.uk www.westminsterquakers.org.uk/room-hire 8 Hop Gardens, off St Martins Lane, London, WC2N 4EH If requiring assistance in an emergency, call 07895 978 092
*Please note I am part-time, and work flexible working hours; I don't expect anyone to respond outside their own normal working hours.* _______________________________________________ wardenship mailing list -- wardenship@lists.quaker.eu.org To unsubscribe send an email to wardenship-leave@lists.quaker.eu.org
Hi Lorna, I normally don't bother checking any credentials. However, one thing I did do a little while ago was to ask a carpenter - who, at this point, was supposed to do some carpentry work that would involve the removal of an electrical light and cable - to see if she's got the necessary qualifications for the electrical work. She was honest enough to say that she hadn't and that she would subcontract this part of the job to a friend of hers who did have that qualification. Generally speaking, I find that personally meeting up with prospective contractors goes a long way towards establishing who's professional and who isn't. Not completely foolproof, I must admit, but nor are the checks of insurances, risk assessments, and so on. Best wishes, Klaus Huber Resident Warden, Bradford on Avon On Tue, May 7, 2024 at 9:02 PM William Waddilove <william@waddilove.co.uk> wrote:
Throw the question back to the people who said you should. Ask them for the how? If they say you should, they will know how and what to ask! I can assure my clients that I have 'small traders' insurance and I take care not to go beyond its limitation (height working and 'flames' indoors - on the rare occasions if I need to do soldering it do it outside and then connect in with compression joints sort of thing) William Waddilove (Coventry Meeting premises etc and HLD Maintenance Services)
On Tue, 7 May 2024 at 20:03, Westminster Wardens < westminsterwardens@gmail.com> wrote:
May I ask, please, what you all do about checking that contractors are properly insured, have done H&S risk assessments, are properly trained on their equipment, etc?
A recent H&S survey we've had done has asked us to do some of these checks when we have contractors in, but we are wondering what will suffice, and how deep we have to go. Any information on how you all manage this would be appreciated!
In friendship, Lorna.
Lorna Richardson Premises Coordinator
Westminster Quaker Meeting House (Religious Society of Friends) www.westminsterquakers.org.uk www.westminsterquakers.org.uk/room-hire 8 Hop Gardens, off St Martins Lane, London, WC2N 4EH If requiring assistance in an emergency, call 07895 978 092
*Please note I am part-time, and work flexible working hours; I don't expect anyone to respond outside their own normal working hours.* _______________________________________________ wardenship mailing list -- wardenship@lists.quaker.eu.org To unsubscribe send an email to wardenship-leave@lists.quaker.eu.org
_______________________________________________ wardenship mailing list -- wardenship@lists.quaker.eu.org To unsubscribe send an email to wardenship-leave@lists.quaker.eu.org
-- Klaus Huber Warden Bradford on Avon Quaker Meeting House 1 Whiteheads Lane, Bradford on Avon BA15 1JU Tel. 01225 865393 bradfordonavonquakers.weebly.com
participants (4)
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Klaus Huber -
Wendrie Heywood -
Westminster Wardens -
William Waddilove