Permit to Work or Permit to Risk? Managing Contractors Safely in Schools and Trusts

Managing contractors isn’t just about paperwork, it’s about controlling risk.

Without proper work permits or formal safety measures, one company faced a £1 million fine after a contractor died. Even “simple” work can have serious consequences if compliance processes are overlooked.

This session helps schools go beyond paperwork to manage contractor risks effectively. Participants will learn how Permit-to-Work (PTW) systems provide authorisation, supervision, and verification, ensuring work is safe rather than assumed. Key takeaways include when PTWs are needed, common mistakes to avoid, and how schools can confidently control risk without being technical experts.

During the session, we will be looking at:

• Understand when schools must use permits to work and why relying on contractor experience alone leaves schools exposed
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  Learn how to take back control of risk on your site without becoming a technical expert or creating unnecessary paperwork
• Gain practical insight into common contractor management failures in schools and how to avoid them before they lead to incidents or enforcement action
• Let us introduce you to this week's professional speaker, Isthar Pearce

Isthar Pearce is the Head of the Health, Safety and Fire Safety team, with twenty years of experience on an advisory and management level within the private and public sectors. Her last eight years have been primarily focused on the education sector.  She firmly believes that people’s health, safety, and well-being are intrinsically linked to an organisation’s success. She enjoys assisting clients with strategic planning, developing H&S procedures and empowering clients to make informed H&S decisions. Her responsibilities also include supporting the H&S team and developing and delivering various courses.