Information for Contractors

About Griffith City Council's Work Health & Safety

We recognise that the effective development, implementation and continuous improvement of the Work Health and Safety (WHS) system is necessary for the effective operation of our organisation.

The key to a successful WHS system involves, among other things, positive cultural attitudes of every worker which includes managers, employees, contractors, volunteers, trainees, work experience and labour hire staff, towards achieving best practices in the workplace.

WHS is everyone’s responsibility, and agenuine team effort is needed as described in our WHS Policy relating to WHS responsibilities and authorities.

Every one of us must accept and share this responsibility to allow us to achieve our goal in Work Health and Safety Compliance by completing the following on a continual basis:

Safety leadership at all levels
Consultation and communication mechanisms
Risk management processes
Promotion of a safety culture
Health and wellbeing initiatives
Injury management and return to work programs

We are responsible for the implementation of actions to help realise a healthy, safe and injury free environment, model safe behaviour, and identify and provide adequate resources to ensure a safe workplace and safe systems of work.

Click here for the Griffith City Council Contractor Induction Handbook(PDF, 1MB)

Safety Management System

Griffith City Council Safety Management System is designed to ensure that our workplace is healthy and safe and that incidents are prevented.

We are all responsible to adhere to safe systems of work and take reasonable care not to expose ourselves, others or the environment to unnecessary risk.

Griffith City Council Safety Management System is designed to comply with AS 4801 and includes:

Appropriate policies and supporting procedures
Consultative processes framed around continuous improvement
Systems to implement our procedural requirements
Internal scrutiny of our systems and the results they produce
Periodic review of the effectiveness of our efforts by our leaders

Contractor safety information

Griffith City Council has an obligation to ensure that people and our city environments are not exposed to hazards or damage and that a safe workplace is provided for all workers where Council has direct control over the activities so far as is reasonably practicable.

All contractors/suppliers working for Council or on Council controlled work sites, facilities or projects shall meet the requirements of their own policies, procedures and all relevant WHS and Environmental legislation as a PCBU so far as is reasonably practicable.

These groups will also be required to meet any Council specific requirements for WHS.

These requirements are outlined in Council's WHS Contractor Safety Information Handbook.

The information contained in this area of our website is for Council's current or prospective contractors. It provides details on minimum safety requirements of contractors and also includes a number of templates available to assist contractors working for Council.

More information is available by downloading Griffith City Council Contractor Induction Handbook(PDF, 1MB)

For further information please contact contractors@griffith.nsw.gov.au or phone (02) 69694807

Contractor induction requirements

Contractors and sub-contractors (and anyone else who will be working on a Griffith City Council site / facility) MUST complete Council's online WHS Induction prior to commencing any work for Council.

No Contractor and its employees are to complete works at a Griffith City Council facility/ site without a completed induction.

If you and your workers need to complete the online induction, please email contractors@griffith.nsw.gov.au with the following information;

Name of workers that are conducting works for Griffith City Council
Each worker's email address
Copy of white card for each worker
Photo of each worker (head and shoulder - Jpeg)
Mailing address to post card back to you
Company Name that the person works for
Council Contact Name
Copy of the completed Contractor Induction Record(PDF, 118KB) form

Upon receipt of the email, we'll send login information to the inductee with a link to the Griffith City Council online induction platform.

The online induction will take approximately 45 minutes to complete.

Each worker is then required to sign an acknowledgement form and return to Council. This acknowledgement form will be emailed to each individual along with login details. Upon completion of all requirements, Council will issue an induction card which must be carried by the recipient while working at a Griffith City Council facility.

Download the acknowledgement form here(PDF, 113KB)

If any of your workers have learning or literacy difficulties, we can arrange face-to-face inductions. You will need to contact Council to make these arrangements.

Contractor Induction Cards

Council will issue Contractor Cards to all contractors that complete the online induction. The cards are valid for 3 years unless revoked for non-conformance. Contractors are expected to carry these cards with them whilst working on a Council site/project.

Online Inductions are valid for 3 years and then you will need to complete a refresher by once again emailing contractors@griffith.nsw.gov.au. Council reserves the right to revoke any contractor card/induction for any WHS non-conformance.

Site Specific Induction

All workers and any visitors who enter a work site must be inducted into the site. The purpose of the induction is to identify hazards within the site and controls to be implemented. A Griffith City Council representative will induct any contractor/worker/visitor into a work site initially. If the work site is then being controlled by a principal contractor, it will be their responsibility to induct any worker/visitor from this point on.

What to Expect of Council when working on a Council Site/Project

Council's number one priority is to ensure the health and safety of all workers. This includes contractors and sub-contractors. Council representatives will conduct due diligence checks at any work site/projects to ensure compliance. You may be asked to provide evidence of your licences or qualifications, equipment servicing, inductions etc. Council will also ask to review any Safe Work Method Statements/procedures and your work will be monitored.

These due diligence checks are specifically for your safety and the safety of those working around you!!!

Contractor safety documentation

If you're an existing preferred contractor for Council, you have already completed the necessary safety documentation. Upon renewal of your contract, Council will send you the necessary forms to complete.

If you are a new Contractor to Council, or Council staff have contacted you to perform work for them, you will need to determine your Category of Contractor in order to complete the correct Safety Documentation. The below table provides information on the Category types;

Category 1 - Construction Projects / Principal Contractors

Projects/contracts where the cost of works is equal to or more than $250,000 (ex GST) and an external organisation is appointed as the Principal Contractor

Category 2 - Major Contracts

Construction Works - generally works over $50,000 OR less than $50,000 and includes high risk construction work
Non-construction - assessed based on:

Cost (eg. over $50,000)
Level of complexity and nature of work (eg. use of subcontractors or likely use of subcontractors)
Duration (e.g. contract extends greater than 6 months)

Category 3 - Minor Contracts

Construction works - less than $50,000 and does not include high risk construction work
Other service providers - consultants or suppliers who provide an on-going or one-off low risk service

The Contractor will need to complete the relevant questionnaire with supporting evidence and return the completed form to Council: