833 Developing a Construction Safety Management System

Steps for Managing Subcontractors

The contractor is responsible to prequalify all subcontractors/trade contractors engaged on a project per their own written prequalification process. Managing subcontractors on the worksite involve these steps for the General Contractor:

• Make sure you require bid documents include subcontractor injury and illness records for the past three years (if the subcontractor has them), and copies of their written safety and health program, including training.
• Establish the criteria for safety and health performance required of potential bidders.

• Give selected subcontractors a copy of your worksite safety plan and have them sign an agreement that they intend to comply with all requirements. Get a copy of the subcontractor's safety plan as well.
• Only allow subcontractors on site who have completed safety orientation and training.
• Monitor subcontractor safety performance on the worksite to make sure they are complying with safety rules and policies and using safe work procedures and practices.

As part of the subcontractor bid process, you will want to ask subcontractors for documentation of the following:

• experience modification rate (called a "Mod Rate" or EMR) for the past three years (should be 1.0 or less)
• OSHA Recordable Incident Rate, DART incidents and near misses for the past three years
• OSHA inspection results for the past three years, if available
• incident/accident analysis and investigation procedures
• participation by management and supervisors
• supervisors' safety meetings and toolbox safety meetings
• written safety and health plan
• employee orientation and training

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