When employing contractors on farm, the principal has a legal obligation to ensure:

• That the contractor has the necessary skills/experience to carry out the work safely
• That any equipment used by the contractor has been maintained and is safe to use
• That the contractor is aware of any particular hazards on farm which may cause harm to them.

Every principal shall take all practicable steps to ensure that no contractor or subcontractor; or an employee of a contractor or subcontractor, is harmed while doing any work (other than residential work) that the contractor was engaged to do. 

It is important to ensure that the same information you provide to keep your own employees safe is easily available to keep contractors safe.

Complete the information needed for your own farm and the system will automatically generate an agreement for all contractors. 

Get the contractor to sign the agreement prior to any work being undertaken.  This confirms their understanding of the hazards on your farm, and their legal responsibility to work safely on your farm.

Alternatively you can review your current method of informing contractors with your staff and existing contractors.  Check it is working effectively and that hazards are quickly and easily identified for all contactors on farm.