Subcontractor Performance Monitoring

Toolbox Talk Record

Ref: TBT-SUB-010  |  Issue: 1  |  Date: March 2026
PresenterProject
LocationDate

What?

Why?

Legal dutyCDM 2015 Regulation 13 requires the principal contractor to plan, manage, monitor, and coordinate all contractor activities.
Early interventionMonitoring identifies declining standards before they result in serious incidents, allowing corrective action in time.
Due diligenceDocumented monitoring protects the principal contractor from legal liability by demonstrating active safety management.
Do Don't
  • Carry out regular safety inspections of all subcontractor work areas.
  • Track key performance indicators including incidents, near misses, and compliance.
  • Discuss subcontractor safety performance at weekly progress meetings.
  • Provide support and improvement plans for underperforming subcontractors first.
  • Recognise and reward subcontractors who consistently achieve good safety standards.
  • Audit subcontractor RAMS compliance, permit adherence, and training records.
  • Record all monitoring findings and share them with the subcontractor management.
  • Escalate persistent non-compliance through the contractual enforcement process.
  • Compare performance across subcontractors to identify best practice for sharing.
  • Brief subcontractors on the monitoring programme and performance expectations at induction.
  • DON'T assume subcontractors will maintain standards without ongoing monitoring.
  • DON'T use monitoring solely as a punishment tool; support improvement first.
  • DON'T ignore declining subcontractor performance hoping it will improve on its own.
  • DON'T limit monitoring to paperwork checks; observe actual work practices on site.
  • DON'T collect performance data without analysing trends and acting on findings.
  • DON'T apply monitoring inconsistently across different subcontractors on the project.
  • DON'T only focus on negative findings; recognise and share good practice too.
  • DON'T delay escalation when a subcontractor repeatedly fails to address findings.
  • DON'T treat the monitoring programme as a tick-box exercise for the safety file.
  • DON'T forget to monitor your own directly employed teams to the same standard.

See also: Subcontractor Safety Management | Subcontractor RAMS Review