Who is contractor

If they accept a contract, only then will they be obliged to complete the work. Once a contract is complete, if the client offers more work, the contractor is free to take on the additional work or decline the offer. This means they have the freedom to choose their own hours. Many businesses choose to hire contractors rather than permanent employees for certain roles or projects.

Hiring contractors can be more cost-efficient — especially for special projects or processes not carried out on a day-to-day basis.

While contractors can cost more per hour or project, they can still cost businesses less than hiring a permanent employee. Hiring contractors also gives businesses a chance to bring in individuals with specialist knowledge who are pre-qualified for safety-critical tasks.

Different projects may require individuals with different skillsets, and contracting offers businesses the freedom to hire the specialists they need when they need them. Choosing the best person for the job can result in higher levels of efficiency and increased profitability.

For many, working as an independent contractor is the ideal job because of the freedom it brings. Many contractors can decide their hours and fit work around their personal and family life, choosing when to take holidays.

Working with a variety of businesses can also be very rewarding and allows contractors to build their skills and experience. With every new project, contractors can build their knowledge, and with more skills under their belt, can move up the pay ladder faster than those in regular employment.

Contractors tend to earn a higher rate than employees and have more potential to increase their wage. First Known Use of contractor , in the meaning defined at sense 1. Learn More About contractor. Time Traveler for contractor The first known use of contractor was in See more words from the same year. Phrases Related to contractor independent contractor. Style: MLA. English Language Learners Definition of contractor. Medical Definition of contractor. Legal Definition of contractor.

Get Word of the Day daily email! Test Your Vocabulary. Test your vocabulary with our question quiz! Love words? Construction sites are among the most dangerous worksites in the world. This is especially true for contractors, who make up a disproportionate number of on-site fatalities. OSHA reports that These fatalities disproportionately affect contracted workers, who account for 17 percent of all fatal work injuries in the U. The International Labour Organization and other international bodies lack global requirements that specifically address the work safety and health of contractors and subcontractors.

This has resulted in a lack of standardization in the employer-contractor relationship across jurisdictions and a lack of clarification regarding the responsibilities of each party. According to OSHA regulations, as well as regulations in other jurisdictions such as Canadian provinces, a prime contractor is legally responsible for ensuring compliance with all safety rules and regulations in the workplace. However, additional regulations may result in the contracting employer retaining liability for workplace accidents or health and safety violations.

In , a Canadian employer who lacked the expertise necessary to do a window-cleaning project hired an experienced contractor to do the job. When an accident resulted from the contractor failing to comply with occupational health and safety regulations, the employer was found liable for failing to ensure compliance, despite the contractor having been hired specifically for the superior expertise.

Employers have also faced criminal charges in Canada for failing to properly maintain equipment used by contracted employees. Subscribe to the Safeopedia newsletter to stay on top of current industry trends and up-to-date know-how from subject matter authorities.

Our comprehensive online resources are dedicated to safety professionals and decision makers like you. By: Daniel Clark.