Risk-Based Approach to HSE Management with Contractors on Construction Projects

From Chaos to System: Contractor Safety Management

Construction projects and large-scale reconstructions are always a challenge for the HSE department. When hundreds of third-party workers with varying levels of safety culture enter the site simultaneously, standard control methods stop working. In his presentation, Georgy Adzhienko, Head of the Contractor Relations Department at NLMK PJSC, details how to build a contractor management system capable of preventing an increase in injury rates under intensive construction conditions.

Contract Life Cycle: From Planning to Completion

Using his company as an example, the speaker shows how implementing a classic safety management model throughout the entire contract life cycle changes the game. This approach, which originated in the oil and gas industry, involves integrating HSE requirements at every stage — from procurement planning to evaluating work results.

Risk Assessment and Pre-Qualification Before Work Starts

A key step is assessing the risk level of planned projects. This allows for the allocation of HSE resources: high-risk projects receive maximum attention, including mandatory supervising and video surveillance. Pre-qualification of counterparties serves as a primary filter, weeding out companies that do not meet basic legal requirements. The speaker notes that only a few pass this barrier on the first try, making it an effective tool for contractor development.

Tenders and HSE Agreements

Evaluating technical proposals based on safety criteria is another important practice. The contractor must not only offer a price but also demonstrate an understanding of risks and a readiness to manage them. The HSE agreement, signed along with the contract, establishes responsibility, a system of fines, and, importantly, a mechanism for offsetting them provided that funds are invested in proactive safety measures.

On-Site Control and Management Tools

The presentation details the site safety management plan — a consolidated document that systematizes all HSE information on the project. It includes inspection schedules, hazard zone maps, non-standard work registers, and communication plans. This tool makes project management transparent and predictable.

Violation Register and Supervising

Detailed classification of violations in a single register allows identifying systemic problems and working specifically with each contractor. External and internal supervising, including specialized control over work at height, ensures the constant presence of specialists on site who not only record violations but also conduct behavioral dialogues.

Focus on Top Risks and Communication

The speaker analyzes the approach to managing top risks: work at height, hot work, lifting operations, and electrical safety. The transition to modular scaffolding, training at specialized training grounds, and technical supervision of scaffolding installation have significantly reduced the number of violations. Regular meetings, thematic forums involving top management, and line walkarounds create a unified information field and engage contractor leadership in safety issues.

What you will learn from this webinar:

• How to integrate HSE requirements into the contractor selection process?
• Which control tools are most effective on large construction projects?
• How to organize the work of supervisors and technical supervision?
• How to use a violation register to identify systemic problems?
• How to engage contractor top management in safety issues?