Supply of skills, cost reduction, and flexibility… Subcontracting offers a whole range of advantages which manufacturers are eager to seize: 74% of them make use of subcontracting, according to the French statistics board (INSEE). Subcontracting is an integral part of a company’s life cycle from its creation, during construction, operation and all the way to dismantling. It is therefore not surprising that subcontractors were involved in 10% of the accidents which occurred between 2015 and 2018 in Installations Classified for the Protection of the Environment (ICPE) and subject to
registration or authorisation. However, we mustn’t assume that, when an external party is involved in an incident, that they were responsible for the situation. Although this aspect doesn’t often appear in the operators’ accident analysis, subcontracting a service doesn’t mean that the risk is also subcontracted. Though not exhaustive, this sheet describes some of the difficulties involved with subcontracting and provides recommendations to limit the risks.
Safe subcontracting
