Contractors & Self Employed

Contractors and their employees, those actually doing the construction work, are most at risk of injury and ill-health. They have a key role to play, in co-operation with other duty holders planning and managing the work, to ensure that risks are identified and are properly controlled.

• Contractors may include utilities, specialist contractors, contractors nominated by the client and self-employed persons. Contractors are often sub-contractors to the principal contractor.
• Contractors may also have duties as designers if they are involved in designing elements of their work, such as pre-cast concrete planks or curtain walling.
• Anyone who directly employs or engages construction workers, or manages construction work is a contractor for the purposes of these regulations. This includes companies that use their own workforce to carry out construction work on their own premises.