Compliance Framework | Contractor management

Independent Schools Victoria Compliance Framework

Guidelines for managing contractors and visitors.

Contractor management

Please scroll to the bottom of the page for contacts and links

Do you need to comply?

Yes - under the provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic.).

Conditions of compliance

Employers are required under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic.) to provide and maintain, as far as practicable, a working environment that is safe and without risks to health for all employees.

Pursuant to section 21(3), an independent contractor and the contractor's employees may be considered to be employees in the same way as teachers or other staff. The duty of the principal to such a contractor is the same as to actual employees in relation to matters over which the principal has control. This duty of care cannot be removed through agreement.

If you have to comply, what do you have to do?

There is a duty to take care in employing independent contractors to ensure that they are competent and are able to control their own systems of work.

There is also a duty to retain a general supervisory power over any work, and a duty to define the contractor's respective areas of responsibility, particularly where there is more than one contractor involved, and where such interrelationships may give rise to risks.

School councils/boards need to examine carefully the contractual relationships that are entered into, and ensure that the activities undertaken do not put staff, students or the contractors at risk.

Schools need to develop protocols to deal with issues to be addressed when arranging for a contractor to perform work in the school. (Please click here to download "Contractor and Visitor Guidelines" (pdf))

Appropriate documentation should be produced by the school that acknowledges that the contractor:

has been provided with the school's safety requirements
has identified for the school the safety requirements that govern their activities
will observe both of these requirements.

This documentation should be signed by the contractor and filed by the school for its own protection.

What are the consequences if you don't comply?

You may be in breach of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic.). Penalties could be applied.

Who will help you?

Independent Schools Victoria contact:

Peter Roberts
Director, School Services
Ph. 03 9825 7211
peter.roberts@independentschools.vic.edu.au

Independent Schools Victoria documents:

Click here to download "Contractor and Visitor Guidelines" (pdf)

Click here to download "Contractor Occupational Health and Safety Checklist" (pdf)

Click here to download "Tips on Managing School Risks - Contractual Arrangements" (pdf)

Click here to download a sample "Limitation of Indemnity Clause" (pdf)