3392 Approaches to managing and assuring contractor competence

Overview:

Contractor engagement and management is a key challenge in the energy sector. The objective of this publication is to provide additional resources in the form of alternative techniques and approaches to the delivery and assurance of contractor competence. The approaches can be thought of as tools to help a client organisation work with a contractor to ensure competent personnel are placed into the right roles.

This publication does not provide a step-by-step guide on competence assurance. Instead, it provides a number of approaches that could be used when managing contractor competence. The guidance contained in this publication is intended to be of use to operators and duty holders using one or more contractors to undertake work on their sites.

While this publication uses the tools and techniques of human factors (HF), it is intended to be used by anyone who can make good use of the guidance given. Some issues will require a significant degree of HF expertise, others can be addressed by anyone familiar with work on major infrastructure and/or hazard sites.

The focus of this publication is on the competence of contractors working on an operational site, but the material provided can be used across a range of contractor relationships and activities. One notable example is the use of engineering and other professional/technical, advisory, analysis and design services. The need for clarity of objectives, shared understanding and common goals are common to all projects, but the more specialised the skill, the greater the need for the operator/client to act as a competent 'knowledgeable customer' to assure that the advice they receive and act upon is sound.