How well does sourcing through a single contractor serve the Client’s interests when it comes to safety? Proforma Safety says single sourcing will not always guarantee a safe and consistent job. Regardless of the type of project, having a single contractor handle everything — including safety — can lead to problems.

“The ability for objective, third-party oversight can be diminished, and the potential introduced for dictated safety practices, cover-ups, non-reported incidents or doctored reports to ensure the project looks good in the eyes of the Client,” said Proforma Safety CEO Mike Arnold. “It’s been our experience that it’s better for the Client to hire its own safety experts to handle safety oversight.”

He cites an example in which a service provider is hired by a Client to deliver a turn-key project. The service provider then hires a company like Proforma Safety to oversee safety.

“The risk is that the service provider will tell us, ‘you report any incidents to us, not the Client.’ This does not always serve the interests of the Client,” he explained. “We have turned down several assignments on that very basis because we believe safety should be done one way, the correct way. Our reputation is built on this belief. It’s what our customers count on us for.”

Tags: HSE Oversight, safety culture
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