HSE Minimum Standard Requirement for Contractors 2023
- Introduction
ENGIE’s Health & Safety policy aims to ensure that its service providers’ standards are at least equal to its own Health & Safety standards and aims to eliminate serious or fatal accidents.
To ensure the right selection, evaluation process and performance monitoring of manpower Contractors and Subcontractors, we have defined an acceptable minimum standard for health, safety and welfare rights of any person working on an ENGIE site on behalf of the Contractor, to be applied to ENGIE AMEA region, regardless of the service provided. These standards should be added to each asset’s normal evaluation and selection process.
The final decision to integrate, keep or reject a Contractor in the supplier panel remains with the ENGIE assets. This should be documented as per the internal asset procurement procedures and shared with all the assets.
The Contractor shall provide and implement a Safety Management System which complies with ISO 45001, and which shall be certified by an accredited third party and be relevant to all services it provides.
If the Contractor does not have a certified Safety Management System, then they shall only be considered by ENGIE if they agree to become certified within one year from the time the service contract is awarded by the ENGIE entity. Failure to meet this requirement may render any service contract null and void at the sole discretion of ENGIE.
- COMPETENCE
The Contractor shall ensure that employees provided to an ENGIE site are competent and hold the necessary qualifications, skills, and experience to perform the work required and stipulated by ENGIE.
The Contractor shall provide basic Health, Safety, Environmental and Welfare training to all employees allocated to an ENGIE entity such that they are able to avoid danger when working on an ENGIE site.
At ENGIE, we have 5 Safety Essential Behavior practices to adopt and must be respected in order to have “No Life at Risk”:
- Life Saving Rules
Everyone must ensure that the teams’ working environment complies with the lifesaving rules. They are non-negotiable and person may be excluded from work upon breach. “Respect the Life Saving Rules”all the time.
- Last Minute Risk Assessment (LMRA)
This is a one minute to check the work environment before starting an activity. There are five (5) basic checks to do:
- I stop and observe: I inspect carefully the workplace and the surroundings
- I analyse the work to be done: what are the different tasks to be performed?
- I assess the risks: are all the safety rules respected?
- I check that all risks are under control: if not, I consult my manager
- I perform the task safely: I only start work having ensured that all safe conditions are met
- Shared vigilance
Shared vigilance is being vigilant for our own and for everyone’s safety. All employees, either from ENGIE or from contractor shall alert anyone if his/her safety seems threatened and know how to react to someone’s who intervenes to protect his/her own safety and wellbeing.
- Stop The Work
Not as safe as it can be? Stop immediately. It is everyone’s duty to help to ensure that we all work safely. Raise the alert and ask questions:
- Why is it not safe?
- How should it be done?
- What actions need to be taken?
- When can work resume safely?
- Events & Incidents
All events and incidents shall be reported (HIPO, accidents, near misses, unsafe conditions and unsafe acts) to learn from them and to prevent the worst from happening one day.
- Other Requirements
In addition to the above principles the Contractor shall comply to the basic minimum HSSE requirement as below.
- RISK MANAGEMENT
The Contractor shall ensure that all known hazards present on an ENGIE site (as notified by ENGIE) are made known to each employee prior to working on an ENGIE site.
All the works including routine, non-routine and temporary works, shall be risk assessed to reduce the risk levels to ALARP (As low as Reasonably Practicable). The same is to be approved by ENGIE Representative before start of work. In addition to the preliminary risk assessments, personnel are to be trained in Last Minute Risk Assessment (LMRA). For details & reference please see the Entity Risk Register and Risk evaluation guidelines.
- HSE PLAN
The Contractor shall submit a detailed HSE plan. The HSE Plan shall cover process to implement above principles and details of the HSE Management System. Below is the expected content of a HSE Management Plan:
- Definitions
- Introduction
2.1. Project Description
- Objective, Scope of Application and Structure of the HSE Management Plan
- HSSE policy
4.1. General Company HSE Policies
4.2. Project HSE Policy
- Project HSE Objectives
- Roles and Responsibilities
6.1. Project Organization
6.2. Roles and Responsibilities
- HSE Planning
- Operational Processes
8.1. HSE Risk Management
8.1.1. HSE Risk Acceptance Framework
8.1.2. Risk Identification & Evaluation
8.1.3. Risk Management Structure
8.1.4. High Risk Activities
8.2. HSE Regulatory Framework
8.3. Contractor Management
8.4. Safety Commitment & Behavior
8.5. Safe Design
8.6. Training
8.7. Emergency & Crises Management
8.8 Incident and Accident management
- HSSE Monitoring
9.1. Project HSSE Performance Indicators
9.2. HSE Observations
9.3. Internal HSE Audits
9.4. Management of Change
- Check
10.1. Management Review
HSSE Plan is to be approved by ENGIE entity Representative before start of the project.
- SAFETY INDUCTION
The Contractor shall arrange to provide a detailed HSSE induction to its employees including its sub-contractors. Contractor should also ensure that employees understood the requirement through some checks and keep records of the same. Person can be deployed on the job only after safety induction is given. Record of Safety Induction of all persons should be maintained and produced whenever asked by ENGIE.
- Competent Person
The Contractor shall ensure that the person/persons in charge for the supervision of the work, technicians such as electrician, rigger, scaffolder etc. are competent person and as per requirements. No work shall commence/ be executed in absence of a qualified competent person.
- Major Risks
A separate program and procedure shall be put in place to cover major risks such as but not limited to Electrical Safety, Working at Height, Lone working, Working with Ladders, Lifting, Confined space, Scaffolding, lock out/Tag out, Process Safety, Work over water, Workplace upkeeping (Housekeeping) etc. The same procedure / risk assessment shall be produced for review and comments.
- Permit to work (Wherever Applicable)
Major risk works such as listed above and in addition Hot works, Work on Live Energy Equipment, and any other high-risk activities, shall be covered under ENGIE permit to work (PTW) system guidelines with clear authorizations and responsibilities. If at the asset ENGIE PTW system is applicable, it shall be followed irrespective of the Contractor guidelines.
- Personnel Protection Equipment (PPE)
The Contractor shall provide all required/ necessary PPE’s to the workmen. All PPE’s shall be as per the acceptable international standard. In any case the use of Safety Shoes, Safety Helmet, Reflective Jackets, Safety Goggles are mandatory. These PPEs shall be regularly checked and maintained fit for purpose by the Contractor HSE persons. Other specific PPE’s shall be used as per the job requirement, risk assessment and or as directed in the work.
- Plant and apparatus
Plant and electrical apparatus must be provided with adequate guards, barriers, screens, etc. to prevent inadvertent contact with electrical or mechanical hazards. Suitable arrangements must be provided so that plant and apparatus can be properly isolated, including the ability to lock off isolation points. Plant and apparatus must also be designed so that it can be vented, drained, purged and earthed as appropriate to enable a safe system of work for maintenance activities.
All systems must be designed such that when they are in their normal operating mode, they may be operated without risk to the health and safety of persons when routine procedures and suitable equipment are used correctly.
- Use of Portable tools
All electrical portable tools shall be of good quality. Good earth protection shall be provided for such tools. Appropriate size industrial plugs/ sockets shall be used. All rotating tools shall have the appropriate guards.
The electrical tools shall be inspected, maintained, and tagged as such.
- Visual Inspection: -
- Equipment’s in good condition
- Proper earthing of equipment’s
- Plug top/ Socket in good condition
- Connecting Wire/ probe/ accessories in good condition
- Wires / Terminals should not be exposed
- Voltage / Current rating clearly mentioned
- Necessary electrical protection available
- Portable equipment is electrically safe
- Intrinsic safe certificate is mentioned in the equipment (hazardous area).
- Use of Hand and Lifting tools
- All equipment should be of good construction, sound material, and adequate strength, free from patent defect.
- Equipment should be designed so that it is safe when used.
- All equipment should have the SWL (Safe Working Load) clearly marked on it, or in the case of wire ropes and chains, a suitable means of identifying the SWL.
- Such equipment shall also be suitably marked so that it can be uniquely identified.
- Equipment should be maintained in compliance with a, b, c and d, and records kept of such maintenance.
- Prior to being used for the first time, the equipment should be thoroughly examined by a competent person and certified to this effect as per the statutory requirement in the country.
- The equipment is certified on a periodic basis as required by statute or as required by a competent person (manufacturers or codes of practice may specify more frequent intervals than those laid down by statute).
- Ensure employees using the equipment have been trained in its correct use, and the possible hazards associated with its use and misuse. Employees should also be made aware of their obligation to report defects in any such equipment without unreasonable delay.
- Use of Gas cylinder
All compressed gas cylinders shall be placed vertically up right and tied properly in gas trolley. The gas regulator, tubes, pressure gauges and clamps shall be in good condition. Gas cylinders shall be provided with suitable protective valve cap.
- Hazardous Substances, its storage, Use of PPEs & MSDS Requirements
Hazardous substances and chemical register shall be prepared in advance. Replacement of most hazardous substances is to be thoughts off (if possible). Its storage, usage, and disposal are to be carried out as per Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) requirements with clear access controls and signages. Personnel exposed to these substances and chemicals are to be trained in MSDS (all) aspects including handling emergency and shall be separately identified.
- Commissioning
A separate procedure for commissioning is to be prepared and presented to ENGIE representative for review and approval. Before the actual commissioning commences at a project a separate organization with clear roles and responsibilities is to be set up and all personnel are to be trained in commissioning risk including the construction workers.
- Vehicle & Earth Moving equipment
The driving risk shall be assessed, and a clear policy is to be made for Driving within, To & From for work. This also includes earth moving equipment.
All Vehicle / Earth Moving Equipment shall meet international requirements and as minimum the below,
- Good condition of Main Brake & Hand Brake
- Good mechanical condition
- Good condition of Guards / Covers & Doors
- Good working condition of all Horn / Reverse Horn / Lights / indicators & wiper blades
- Valid Driving license as applicable
- Good condition of tires & air pressure
- Rear side mirror if applicable
- Good condition of seat belts for all front and rear seats
- Valid Insurance & Registration certificate.
- Accident & Incident Reporting
The Contractor shall inform ENGIE Site Representation of any incident where one or more of its employees are injured or are at significant risk of injury (near miss) and any HiPO as per entity Incident Reporting Procedure Timelines, but no later than,
Fatality |
Immediately |
Lost Time Accident |
Within 12 Hours |
Medical Treatment |
Within 48 Hours |
First Aid Treatment |
Within 1 week |
Hi-Po Near Miss |
Within 48 Hours |
- Good Housekeeping Standard
The Contractor shall maintain a good stacking and storage of materials at stores & workplace area. Periodical housekeeping (Minimum – during shift changeover) shall be maintained. It is the responsibility of the Contractor to ensure disposal of waste to the designated area.
- Barrier and Fences
Barriers and fences with proper instruction shall be put & displayed wherever required to warn the other individuals accessing the area.
- Drinking water & Sanitary facilities
The Contractor shall ensure the availability of safe drinking water and sanitary facilities to the employees.
The Contractor shall only use facilities which are regulated and managed by government authorities (for example, Zonescorp in Abu Dhabi).
The Contractor shall ensure that accommodation provided to its employees is fit for purpose and meets the following criteria as minimum,
- Has a minimum living area of 10 m3 per person, and number of workers should not exceed 10 persons in each room.
- Has air conditioning which can maintain a habitable standard of 22oC (+/- 2oC) and humidity should be between 30-60%.
- Has sufficient electrical sockets for the number of inhabitants (minimum of
1 per person). - Has a fixed lighting system.
- Has a dedicated bed for every person (“hot-bedding” is not permitted) with a mattress, pillow and bedding provided.
- Bunk type beds are limited to two levels.
- Has separate bathroom and toilet facilities with a maximum facility/ person ratio of 1:10.
- Has separate facilities for cooking and eating.
- Has separate facilities for laundering clothes.
- Is regularly maintained by a competent authority.
- Has suitable emergency arrangements in place, which are tested at least twice per year.
- Has suitable first aid facilities available (commensurate with the number of occupants) and trained persons to administer first aid.
- Has suitable facilities to securely store personal belongings.
- All rooms where more than one person is resident must be single sex.
- Reward and Penalty System
The Contractor shall put in place a procedure for Reward and Penalty for safety performance in link with implementation of ENGIE Fair Culture (GR14).
- Health Monitoring
The Contractor shall provide adequate health monitoring to its employees such that they remain fit for work and do not pose any risk of harm to themselves or others when they are present on an ENGIE site.
- Human Rights
The Contractor shall comply to International Human Rights regulations (quote ENGIE reference) and should not withhold any legal documentation (e.g. passports, ID cards) belonging to its employees, unless specifically requested by the employee.
The Contractor shall honor all contractual requirements to its employees.
- Killing of Birds / Animals
Killing of animals and birds etc. is completely prohibited. Applicable statutory requirement shall be followed.