What does the Senior person responsible for Contractors and Service Providers do?
This is one of the most misunderstood roles on a mine site Management Structure. This article will briefly explain what it is, and what it is not.
Recognised Standard 22 states "Each coal mine is required to state the name of the person who is responsible for establishing and implementing a system for managing contractors and service providers at the coal mine."
The purpose of the senior person responsible for contractors and service providers under section 55 of Recognised Standard 22 is to ensure that the management structure established for a mine’s Safety and Health Management System (SHMS) adequately accounts for the risks and responsibilities associated with using external contractors and service providers. In practice, this means:
Ensuring Safe Integration: all contractors and service providers should be integrated into the site’s safety management framework. This involves making sure that external parties understand and comply with the mine’s safety procedures and protocols.
Facilitating Coordination within the Management Structure: Recognised Standard 22 requires that the overall management structure clearly defines the roles and responsibilities for safety within the operation. By having a senior person specifically responsible for contractors and service providers, there is a dedicated channel of communication and control that improves coordination between internal management and external entities, so that potential hazards stemming from contractor activities are not overlooked.
In essence, this Senior role facilitates the integration of contractors into the s.55 Management Structure. On behalf of the Site Senior Executive (SSE) they will most likely negotiate with (or establish a system so that) existing Risk Owners on the Management Structure reach common agreement on how the contractors will be managed via the existing s.55 structure. The key words here are "common agreement" so that it is absolutely clear which persons on the Management Structure are fulfiling the SHMS roles of Risk Owner, Control Implementer and Control Monitor for the work the contractors are performing. By doing so, they help maintain an acceptable level of risk in accordance with statutory requirements under the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999 (CMSHA). This oversight ensures consistency in how contractor-related risks are incorporated into the overall SHMS.
What the Senior person responsible for Contractors and Service Providers is NOT is the day to day supervisor of the contractors and personally responsible for the safety and health of all contractors on site! Unfortunately we hear that too often.
Reach out to info@mycompetency.expert for help with any aspect of your Recognised Standard 22 compliance.
Steve Amor
