Contractors

What is the definition of a Contractor?

In general a Contractor means any employer whose employees carry out construction work and includes both main contractor and sub-contractor.  Contractor may also include a self-employed person where such a person supplies materials and labour or labour only.  In addition, a body such as a local authority may also be a contractor, if the construction work is carried out directly by employees of that body.

What are the duties of Contractors?

The contractor has significant duties relating to a wide range of issues.

A contractor must:

• co-operate with the PSCS – provide any site specific information, including relevant extracts from Safety Statement
• promptly provide the PSCS with information required for the safety file
• comply with directions of the project supervisors
• report accidents to the Authority and to the PSCS where an employee cannot perform their normal work for more than 3 days
• comply with site rules and the safety and health plan and ensure that your employees comply
• identify hazards, eliminate the hazards or reduce risks during construction
• facilitate the site safety representative
• ensure that relevant workers have a safety awareness card and a construction skills card where required
• provide workers with site specific induction
• appoint a safety officer where there are more than 20 on site or 30 employed
• consult workers with site specific induction
• monitor compliance and take corrective action

Use BeSMART.ie to create a Site Specific Safety Statement 

To develop a site specific construction related safety statement visit  and work through these simple steps:

1. Register for free you only need a valid email
2. Select your construction business type there are 37 to choose from
3. Complete the hazard assessments applicable to your business type and review with your employees
4. Download your completed Safety Statement and manage your action lists

Further Information

Guidelines on the Construction Regulations include information on the roles and duties of Contractors