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To the IOSH study

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Outsourcing safely

Losing track

Whilst outsourcing has become very popular, it’s not without risk. By taking work which you would normally do in-house and giving it to a third party, you’re removing it from your direct control and this can have negative consequences. For example, there’s less opportunity for two-way communication between your management and the workers on the ground.

Methodology

The researchers examined how outsourcing was managed within three global companies operating in the engineering, pharmaceutical and logistics sectors (see The next step ). The companies outsource a range of services, including construction and facilities management, to other global companies.

Obstacles to success

Challenges affecting occupational safety and health standards were identified including:

• tensions between organisations whether at board level or locally
• hard-fought negotiations resulting in financial constraints affecting safety performance in delivering the contract
• inconsistent safety requirements may be imposed by the client and contractor, with country-specific variations on top. This causes confusion
• there can be a lack of safety performance review after the contracts are signed
• short contract periods hinder long-term management relationships between both parties as well as investment in staff
• there is bedding in time during which the contractor is below-par on health and safety
• accident and near-miss reporting practices may differ between the two organisations making it difficult to compare data
• there tends to be a failure to learn and improve within services which are outsourced.

Good practice

The study describes common practices that clients can use to minimise the safety risks.

Tip 1. Firstly there must be careful selection of competent partners. Consider what attributes you need from your outsourcing contractor before you undertake your selection process.

Tip 2. Agree in advance what key performance indicators will apply to health and safety, and the precise types of incident which are to be reported and when.

Tip 3. Plan the start of the contract meticulously, to include a full induction of contractors’ staff including safety procedures, risk assessments and, where applicable, permit to work procedures for your sites.

Tip 4. Schedule regular opportunities for verbal and written communications, discussion and feedback.

Tip 5. Conduct a periodic contract review, including health and safety as key factors.

For a link to the IOSH study, visit http://tipsandadvice-healthandsafety.co.uk/download (HS 18.14.03).