Responsibilities of organizations who share a workplace to work together on health and safety issues (C155 Article 17, R164 Recommendation 11) 

When two employers share a workplace, it is not difficult to imagine that the risks that one employer creates in that workplace may affect the employees of the other employer. For example, where two employers occupy offices in the same building, the fire risk created by one employer affects the safety of the employees of the other. 

It follows that both employers must co-operate and co-ordinate their activities to ensure good health and safety standards. 

This is set out in ILO C155 (Article 17): “Whenever two or more undertakings engage in activities simultaneously at one workplace, they shall collaborate in applying the requirements of this Convention.”  

And in ILO R164 (Recommendation 11): “Whenever two or more undertakings engage in activities simultaneously at one workplace, they should collaborate in applying the provisions regarding occupational safety and health and the working environment, without prejudice to the responsibility of each undertaking for the health and safety of its employees. In appropriate cases, the competent authority or authorities should prescribe general procedures for this collaboration.” 

This requires effective communication between employers, the exchange of relevant information and the development of appropriate policies and procedures. This could be carried out in a variety of ways, depending on the nature of the work and the worksite. 

So, for example, in a multi-storey office building occupied by ten different businesses, each employer should provide information on the risks that their specific business creates for other occupiers of the building. This can often be achieved by establishing a building management committee, with regular meetings. Consultation can then take place through this committee, and policies and procedures can be developed and implemented throughout the building, as necessary. 

In this way, a common approach can be developed for the management of joint issues such as fire procedures, security-threat response, emergency-spill response, site rules, visitor and contractor control, traffic management, when many companies share a etc. It may also be appropriate to have a site-wide inspection process, building, a building management common fire drills and even shared waste-disposal procedures. 

If there are specific risks associated with one workplace, then awareness of the issues and the appropriate response from other workplaces can be raised. For example, an agency that deals with violent offenders may share a building with unrelated businesses; those other businesses would need to understand the risks and precautions appropriate to the building as a whole. 

Employers working more closely together may need to share risk assessments. This is to ensure that all organisations are aware of the possible impacts of any equipment and substances being used, so that activities can be co-ordinated. 

For example, one organisation may be using solvent-based paints while an area is occupied by another organisation’s personnel.