When contractors step foot on your site, your safety responsibilities don’t stop at your employees. In Canada, employers have a legal duty to ensure the safety of anyone on their worksite, and that includes contractors. The Canada Labour Code makes this crystal clear in Part 2 on Occupational Health and Safety, which says employers must make sure that “other persons, including visitors and contractors, do not imperil employee safety.” You can check that here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_Labour_Code
So if you think you’re off the hook just because someone else is technically employing the contractor, think again. Not only are you legally accountable, but your reputation and bottom line can take a hit if a contractor gets hurt on your site. This is why Canadian businesses need to think about contractor management as more than just a paperwork exercise—it’s about controlling risks beyond your walls and creating a workplace culture that protects everyone.
Think of it this way: contractors can either extend your safety culture—or undermine it completely. The difference comes down to how seriously you treat contractor management.
A solid Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) policy is the foundation of contractor management. Without a clear policy, expectations get fuzzy, and that’s when accidents slip through the cracks. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) points out that a good policy should show leadership commitment, spell out responsibilities, and commit to legislation compliance. Their detailed guide is here: https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/hsprograms/osh_policy.html
But don’t stop at employees. Your OHS policy should also include specific expectations for contractors:
By embedding contractors in your policy, you make it clear they are not just “guests” but an integral part of your workplace safety culture. Everyone who enters your site should know the rules of the game—and that the rules are enforced equally.
Let’s face it: cost drives a lot of contracting decisions, but the cheapest bid isn’t always the safest. Pre-qualification means making sure a contractor takes safety as seriously as you do before they show up on site.
That includes asking for:
Some organizations also use ISNetworld or similar platforms to standardize pre-qualification. The University of Calgary, for example, requires contractors to go through ISNetworld before awarding any work. You can read their contractor safety program here: https://www.ucalgary.ca/risk/sites/default/files/teams/13/contractor_safety_management_program.pdf
Pre-qualification weeds out risky contractors and sends a clear message: safety is non-negotiable.
A handshake deal doesn’t cut it anymore. Contracts must spell out safety expectations clearly, in writing. That way, there’s no grey area if something goes wrong.
Your contracts should include:
The University of Calgary’s Contractor Safety Management Program highlights how important this step is, with contracts that specify orientation, posting safety plans, incident reporting, and evaluation: https://www.ucalgary.ca/risk/sites/default/files/teams/13/contractor_safety_management_program.pdf
By making safety contractual, you’re making it enforceable.
You wouldn’t hand over your car keys without explaining the brakes. Same goes for contractors on your site.
Every contractor—no matter how experienced—should go through an orientation that covers:
This isn’t busywork—it’s about ensuring everyone speaks the same “safety language.” Large institutions like the University of Calgary have written orientation requirements into their contractor management program: https://www.ucalgary.ca/risk/sites/default/files/teams/13/contractor_safety_management_program.pdf
If your contractors aren’t properly oriented, you’re increasing the odds of confusion, mistakes, and incidents.
Contractor management doesn’t stop once the contract is signed. Safety isn’t “set it and forget it.”
That means ongoing monitoring:
Continuous monitoring ensures that problems are caught before they escalate. Wolters Kluwer offers excellent guidance on best practices in contractor monitoring here: https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/contractor-safety-management-best-practices
Think of monitoring as your insurance policy—it keeps small cracks from turning into disasters.
Too many companies forget this step. Once the job’s done, they pay the invoice and move on. But without a post-job review, you’re missing valuable lessons.
Reviews should ask:
Documenting contractor performance builds a knowledge base. Over time, you’ll develop a network of trusted contractors and avoid repeat mistakes.
The Campbell Institute provides a detailed whitepaper on contractor evaluation and lessons learned, which is worth reviewing: https://www.thecampbellinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Campbell-Institute-Best-Practices-in-Contractor-Management-WP.pdf
Contractor management isn’t just about reacting—it’s about designing hazards out before they show up. Prevention Through Design (PtD) is an approach that integrates safety into the design phase of projects.
Examples include:
By embedding safety in design, you reduce risks for both employees and contractors. Learn more about PtD here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prevention_through_design
This is forward-thinking safety management, and Canadian businesses that adopt it stay ahead of accidents and liability.
All of these practices are easier when tied into a formal Safety Management System (SMS). An SMS (sometimes called an OHSMS) provides a structured approach:
More here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safety_management_system
For global credibility, you can align with ISO 45001, the international standard for OHS management systems: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_45001
Having a formal system isn’t just about compliance—it shows contractors, clients, and regulators that your safety management is mature and reliable.
If you’re running a business in Alberta, you don’t have to figure this out alone. Calgary Safety Consultants specializes in contractor safety and risk management. They help Canadian businesses set up, maintain, and improve contractor OHS programs that actually work in the real world.
Here’s what they bring to the table:
Check out their contractor-specific services here: https://calgarysafetyconsultants.ca/Vendor-%26-Contractor-OH%26S%3A-Managing-Third--Party-Risks
Or visit their main site: https://calgarysafetyconsultants.ca/
With their help, you can move from reactive contractor management to a proactive, sustainable program that protects your people and your reputation.
Contractors can either be a safety asset or a liability—it all depends on how you manage them. In Canada, your responsibilities don’t stop at your payroll. By creating a contractor-inclusive OHS policy, doing thorough pre-qualification, locking in safety requirements, providing orientations, monitoring actively, and completing post-job reviews, you create a culture where safety extends beyond your walls.
And if you want support, Calgary Safety Consultants is here to make contractor safety straightforward, compliant, and effective. Because managing risk beyond your walls isn’t optional—it’s essential.
Connect with us here and let us help you improve your OH&S practices.
Because a safer workplace starts with smarter policy. Let's build it together.
Contractor management ensures that employers meet their legal duty under the Canada Labour Code to protect not only employees but also contractors and visitors. It reduces risk, prevents accidents, and protects both reputation and compliance.
A contractor safety policy should outline pre-qualification requirements, mandatory orientations, hazard reporting, incident management, and continuous monitoring expectations for all third-party workers.
Pre-qualification involves reviewing contractors’ safety records, training programs, certifications (such as ISO 45001), and compliance with regulations. Many Canadian companies also use platforms like ISNetworld to standardize contractor screening.
Calgary Safety Consultants is here to help you ensure compliance, enhance safety, and streamline your OH&S program. Don’t wait—fill out the form, and we’ll connect with you to discuss how we can support your business. Let’s get started!
Calgary Safety Consultants delivers game-changing COR Audits and OH&S consulting designed to keep your business safe, compliant, and accident-free. With 30+ years of expertise in high-risk industries like oil & gas, construction, and manufacturing, we understand the unique challenges you face. We offer tailored safety solutions that not only meet regulatory standards but also reduce operational risks and protect your workforce. From conducting thorough safety audits to implementing comprehensive safety management systems, we ensure your team is fully supported. Our hands-on, collaborative approach means we're with you every step of the way, helping you achieve a safer, more efficient workplace. Let us handle the heavy lifting so your team stays protected, and your business thrives!
