Contractors and HSE in INA Group
Please be informed that our occupational safety regulation affecting contractors and subcontractors has been updated. Therefore, we kindly ask that you go through the changes summarized below and inform your subcontractor(s) accordingly.
How to be on the safe side? Safety Certificate for Contractors (SCC)
SCC (Safety Checklist Contractors) certification confirms the company’s commitment to improving the health, safety and environment management system (HSE). SCC certificate certifies that the contractor’s internal processes have been measured and supervised according to the best practices in risk management, and are found compliant with the recognised standard.
SCC standard was developed to ensure that the demands made to contractors and subcontractors in relation to the HSE management system are consistent and uniform. The certificate can only be obtained from authorized certification companies accredited according to the SCC standard.
1. Determining the risk level
The risk level of HSE works is determined on the basis of a combination of hazardous works from the aspect of safety and the hazard of the area where the work is performed. If the request involves several works, the highest level of risk shall be applied.
Risk level | Hazardous works | Non-hazardous works |
Hazardous area | High risk | Medium risk |
Outside a hazardous area | Medium risk | Low risk |
2. SCC / VCA certification in case of high risk works
All contractors, subcontractors and their staff who carry out high risk works on any INA Group site have to obtain an SCC/VCA certificate as of 1 January 2017.
High risk works are defined as hazardous works from the aspect of HSE, performed in a hazardous area. The list of hazardous works and the definition of a hazardous area can be found in Appendix 1 hereof.
SCC company qualification is valid for 3 years, on condition that an annual supervision is performed, while SCC certificate for workers and operational management must be renewed every 10 years. As of 1 January 2017, suppliers/subcontractors will not be able to obtain a licence to perform high risk works without a valid SCC certificate.
3. Consideration of SCC and OHSAS 18001 and ISO 14001 certifications during the evaluation of tenders for medium risk works
In order to encourage our contractors to obtain their certifications, bonus scores will be given during the evaluation of tenders. For works categorized as high risk works, SCC certificate is mandatory. For works categorized as medium risk works, extra points can be awarded to the contractor if the contractor has already obtained SCC or OHSAS 18001 and ISO 14001 (both together) qualification before tender evaluation.
4. 24/7 safety supervision in case of complex works
In case of complex works, the contractors have to provide continuous (24/7) safety supervision in the working area whenever the works are carried out.
Complex works are defined as works lasting more than 120 man-days and involving parallel work of at least 2 contractors (or subcontractors).
5. HSE Plan in case of complex works
The requirements on HSE Plan preparation have been simplified. In case of high risk complex works, an HSE Plan must be elaborated in cooperation with the location representatives. In case of low risk and medium risk works, it is not obligatory to prepare an HSE Plan; the decision is made on a case-to-case basis depending on the work scope, activities and risks. HSE Plan regulations concerning the contents and responsibilities have not been changed – the contractor is still responsible for the preparation of the HSE Plan and the HSE Plan must be approved by both sides in the mobilisation phase.
6. Changes in the pre-screening and pre-qualification audits
HSE pre-screening (evaluation of suppliers’ legal and financial capabilities and compliance with the HSE requirements):
In case of participating in tenders covering high or medium risk works, Bidders must complete an HSE Pre-screening form and return it to the INA Group Purchaser. Bidders are fully responsible for the accuracy and validity of the information provided in the Pre-screening questionnaire. All required documents certifying the provided information must be attached to the Pre-screening questionnaire.
7. Pre-qualification audits
Conducting of a prequalification audit is optional after the introduction of SCC certificate for high risk works. Prequalification audit can be carried out upon the user’s request in case there is a need to clarify ambiguities. Bidders (and their subcontractors, if necessary) agree to the conducting of a pre-qualification audit automatically by participating in the tender. Pre-qualification audit must be carried out within 3 working days after receiving an audit request from an INA Group company.
8. Pre-mobilization
In case of contracting, detailed rules on pre-mobilization and performing works on site are laid down in the HSE Annex. You can also refer to the local HSE contact person to provide you with the necessary information. Please be advised that pre-mobilization, site visit and orientation are mandatory before complex works.
9. Life Saving Rules
On 1 January 2014, the Life Saving Rules and the related disciplinary actions came into force. This means that in each case of Life Saving Rules violation, serious consequences/penalties can be applied against contractors and subcontractors. These include banning a contractor’s / subcontractor’s employee from INA Group sites, penalties, removal from the location, termination of contract, etc. If multiple violations take place, multiple consequences can be applied at the same time. Penalties and consequences are also listed in the HSE Annex to contracts.
Please be advised that contractors are fully responsible for their subcontractors’ activities.
10. HSE Annex
In case of contracting, we kindly ask that you to go through the HSE Annex to your contract which contains all up to date HSE rules and amendments valid for all INA Group companies.
We wish you a safe and accident-free work.
Appendix 1
A hazardous area is any INA, d.d. operational area where hazardous substances or hazardous energy sources which have the potential to cause damage are or are likely to be present.
List of hazardous works:
No. | Type of works | Included in the works: |
1 | Works in digs deeper than 1 m and works at height above 1 m | All activities in technological areas / in a technological environment including digs of at least 1 m in relation to the initial level, regardless of the nature of work (manual work or machine work) or reasons (digging, foundation for constructions, drilling, landscape design, etc.) Works at height imply performing works at 1 m or higher above the level. All works performed at height require: work platform with an enclosure at least 1 m high, complying with other legal requirements; using equipment for works at height |
2 | Works with chemical and biological substances | Works on unpacking of equipment containing hazardous work substances, deposits and substances which self-ignite in contact with fresh air Chemical cleaning/washing/rinsing Using hazardous chemicals (toxic, irritating, explosive, flammable, oxidising, corrosive and harmful for the environment) for cleaning/washing/rinsing of technological containers/equipment |
3 | Works in ionizing and non-ionizing radiation area | Measuring the thickness of interior walls, level measuring |
4 | Works in the vicinity of high voltage electric installations | All installations over 1,000 V |
5 | Works in areas where potentially explosive atmosphere may be present | Works with open flame, flame cutting and welding, submerged arc welding, cutting and sanding with a grinder, soldering, reheating, insulation heating, Works in which internal combustible engines are used; Works in which pneumatic tools are used; All other work techniques which produce heat that can cause fire or explosion |
6 | Works in areas where potentially explosive atmosphere may be present | Works in technological plants and warehouse areas in accordance with the Ex manual |
7 | Works with machines and devices with increased hazard | Construction machines High pressure or mechanical cleaning/washing/rinsing |
8 | Work on assembling or dismantling heavy parts and/or assemblies | Lifting above equipment/technologies in ex-areas Lifting special loads, such as constructions, mobile cranes, etc. |
9 | Works in closed spaces | Tanks, tunnels, municipal and other technological containers, containers, columns, reactors etc. Entrance/work in closed spaces implies that any part of the body is within a closed space. Works in excavations including entering pits, ditches or dikes deeper than 1,0 m |
10 | Work on assembling and dismantling | Scaffolds, pipelines, bearing constructions, equipment in the work process |
11 | Works involving the hazard of drowning | Diving works, installation of protective dams |
12 | Works during digging, underground and tunnel cleaning | Related to No. IX (work in closed areas) |
13 | Works during diving using pressurised air | Works during diving, works in areas where oxygen concentration is less than 17% ELV (exposure limit value) |
14 | Works close to road or railroad traffic and other works which are not listed under I-XIII | Works close to road or railroad traffic and other works: road and green areas maintenance using motor saws, mowing machines, lawn-mower |