North East Water has a goal of ‘Zero Harm’ to person, property or environment and prides its self on having robust systems and processes to ensure this goal is achieved across all areas of the business. This is a goal that North East Water expects contractors work on behalf of the business or under the business’ approval, to achieve as well.
North East Water also takes great pride in having public trust and a good reputation – while working on behalf of North East Water, it is expected that you will behave like a North East Water employee. Where a contractor fails to apply the appropriate systems/processes to achieve this goal, breaches a legislative requirement, standard or a requirement of North East Water, North East Water will undertake an investigation in to the matter and where appropriate, the below contractor infringement matrix will be implemented.
Following a suspension period
Prior to a suspended contractor returning to North East Water’s Accredited Contractor List following a suspension period, the contractor must provide North East Water with suitable evidence to show the issues that led to the suspension have been addressed and appropriate control measures are now implemented to ensure no further reoccurrences.
Grievance
Where a contractor believes the disciplinary action taken against them by North East Water’s representatives is unfair or unjustified, they may seek to have the decision reviewed by North East Water’s Executive Leadership Team.
Contractor infringement matrix
| Infringement |
1st Incident |
2nd Incident |
3rd Incident |
Immediate Permanent Suspension by MD |
|
Class A Incident
A Class A Incident is defined as a:
- Minor Non-conformance with
- Victorian or Australian Legislation;
- Australian or International Standard/s;
- North East Water’s requirements;
- Contract breach
- Breaches in the contracting company’s own OHS Management System;
- An incident involving member/s of the public or leads to a loss of reputation/trust;
- Any minor security beach, loss or unauthorised sharing of confidential data (including physical, cyber or data environments); and/or
- Unsafe acts/behaviours on site.
|
1st written warning |
Final written warning |
Minimum 3 month* suspension from North East Water’s Accredited Contractor Lis |
Not Applicable |
|
Class B Incident
A Class B Incident is defined as a:
- Major Non-Conformance with:
- Victorian or Australian Legislation;
- Australian or International Standard/s;
- North East Water’s requirements;
- Contract breach
- Notifiable Incident (as per Victorian OHS/EPA legislation or Department of Health);
- Significant unsafe acts/behaviours on site (including bullying or intimidation of NEW staff);
- An incident involving member/s of the public or leads to a loss of reputation/trust; and/or
- Any serious security beach, loss or unauthorised sharing of confidential data (including physical, cyber or data environments)
- High Potential Incident.
|
Final Warning |
Minimum 3 months* suspension from North East Water’s Accredited Contractor List |
Permanent suspension from North East Water’s Accredited Contractor List |
Gross breach contract conditions Incident leading to serious injury or loss of life Failure to implement any needed control for a major incident |
*If an incident is deemed serious enough, North East Water withholds the right to impose a longer or permanent suspension.
Minor Non-conformance is defined as - means a failure to meet one requirement of the relevant legislations, standards or corporate requirements and which is considered NOT to constitute a risk to the quality of product, environment, public health, safety, security, privacy or wellbeing of any party.
Major Non-conformance is defined as - means a failure to meet more than one requirement of the relevant legislations, standards or corporate requirements and which is considered to constitute a risk to the quality of product, environment, public health, safety, security, privacy or wellbeing of any party.