How to manage contractors and their compliance

About one-third of businesses use contractors. They give you flexibility in managing your workforce, because you can hire highly skilled workers for specific projects without having to go through the onboarding typically associated with hiring new employees. They allow you to ramp your team up or down based on business needs and can save you money on employment taxes.  

The challenges lie in managing those contractors and in ensuring regulatory compliance. Typical hurdles associated with using contractors include: 

• Hiring qualified workers 
• Maintaining the appropriate contractor documentation 
• Preparing temporary workers to enter a job site 
• Controlling contractor access across disparate tasks and locations 
• Ensuring adequate worker training 

According to OSHA, successfully managing contractors is the result of effective communication and coordination. Effective communication ensures workers are provided with the information necessary to safely perform their job duties. Effective coordination aligns employers, contractors, and staffing agencies on how to safely accomplish the desired work.  

Failing to manage your contractors and their compliance can lead to disastrous results. Employers and contractors may not understand how their work activities affect each other. Workers may not have a consistent understanding of workplace hazards and controls. Teams may also fail to coordinate their efforts in safety responses.  

TPC understands the importance and complexity of managing both your contractor workforce and complying with safety regulations. We offer online tools that can help:  

• Contractor Management Software
• Safety Training Management System
• FUSION, TPC's Learning Management System

Interested in learning about how our programs can fit the specific needs of your business? Connect with us here. First, we’ll listen and learn to understand the specific problems you face. Then, we’ll collaborate with you to implement the right solutions to help you manage contractors and compliance.  

About the author:

Taylor Sikes is a safety professional with over 15 years of experience. He has served as an OSHA-authorized trainer for construction and general industry, holds a Master of Arts degree from the University of Georgia, and has authored numerous courses in workplace safety.