(18a) Manufacturer's View: Managing Process Safety Risks of Contract Personnel in a Global Agriculture Company

Contract workers represent a significant majority of the workforce in the manufacturing and agriculture industries. In many situations, these contract workers are involved in operations that place them at the interface of controlling hazards. The nature of contract work may include temporary labor or seasonal workforces which can present unique challenges for managing safety through effective communication and training. Moreover, temporary workers are functioning in new environments unlike full-time workers who have more experience with the specific tasks and hazards of the job. These challenges require a consistent focus and discipline to ensure new workers are adapted to the culture, aware of company policies, and empowered to raise concerns that lead to learning and continuous improvement. We present our safety management system for contract workers that are involved in chemical and seeds operations which are businesses that are inherently complex, seasonal, and cyclical.