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Requirements for Contractors and Service Providers 

HS Orka hf. places great emphasis on health, safety and the environment (HSE). This applies to all work performed by and for the company, regardless of whether the work takes place in HS Orka's operating areas or outside them. 

Great emphasis is placed on everyone who works for HS Orka complying with the laws and regulations that are in force and concern health, safety, and environmental issues in the workplace, such as: 

  • The Act on Working Environment, Health and Safety in Workplaces  no. 46/1980.​ 
  • Rules on facilities, hygiene and safety measures at construction sites and at other temporary structures  no. 547/1996.​ 
  • Regulation no. 920/2006 on the organization and implementation of health and safety at workplaces 

In addition, contractors and service providers shall comply with HS Orka's requirements set out here regarding the management of health, safety and the environment (HSE) in all work carried out in HS Orka's operating areas.

The use of personal protective equipment 

The following personal protective equipment shall be used for all work in HS Orka's operating areas.  Contractors and service providers must ensure that all employees on their behalf have access to and always use: 

  • Safety helmet 
  • High ankle safety shoes 
  • Safety goggles 
  • Safety gloves 
  • Wear visible clothing outdoors. 
  • When working in geothermal power plants and their outdoor areas, an H2S meter should be worn. 
  • When grinding and chiseling, use a face shield. 
  • Other personal protective equipment may be necessary, e.g. earmuffs and face masks 

Reporting deviations, opportunities and suggestions

We learn from events and can make improvements that prevent or reduce the likelihood of recurrence that could even lead to an accident for us or our co-workers. 

  • Contractors and service providers must report all accidents, near misses, dangerous incidents, dangerous conditions and environmental incidents that occur during their work for HS Orka 
  • Reporting must be made in HS Orka's systems or by sending an e-mail to tilkynning@hsorka.is. 

Training and competence. 

  • Contractors and service providers shall participate in the education and training that HS Orka requires for the work to be performed. 
  • It is the employer's responsibility to ensure that all their employees have received appropriate training and have renewed it in accordance with HS Orka's requirements. 
  • For all work, the person must have completed a course in health, safety and environment satisfactorily, and renewal of training must take place at least every two years. 
  • There are special courses for specific work, e.g. for Lock out – Tag out, Working at height, Work in confined spaces and Cranes and lifting. 

Task Preparation

  • Contractors and service providers shall carry out risk assessments for all work, including planning which layers of protection shall be applied and how. 
  • The person responsible for the project at HS Orka should be contacted to decide on work arrangements. 
  • It must be ensured that all employees have all the necessary permits. 
  • An operating license must be obtained from Heilbrigðiseftirlit Suðurnesja (the Public Health Authority of the Suðurnes area) for working with machinery s.a. excavators and dozers in source water protection areas and machinery must be inspected with regard to leak protection. 

Arrival at HS Orka's operating area

  • The contractor must notify HS Orka's responsible party of their arrival in the area and obtain a work permit or work request from him or her. 

Equipment and tools 

  • The contractor shall ensure that the condition of equipment and tools in his possession or care is good and complies with the provisions of laws and regulations. 
  • Never use devices if the safety guards have been removed. 
  • Absorption equipment must be present in heavy machinery that enters the water protection area. 

Machines, vehicles and traffic 

  • Everyone who works on machinery or other vehicles must have the appropriate rights (the first letter in the registration number of the machine indicates the category of rights on the machine license). 
  • Always follow traffic rules and markings. 
  • Machines and vehicles must not be left idle.

Work with hazardous energy 

  • When working on energy that could unexpectedly be released and cause accident, isolate energy sources according to HS Orka's “Lock out – Tag out” process. 
  • Everyone who works with hazardous energy must have received the necessary training approved by HS Orka. 

Work in confined spaces 

  • When working in confined spaces, follow HS Orka's rules “Work in confined spaces.” 
  • Everyone who works in confined spaces must have received the training approved by HS Orka. 

Elevated work 

  • Always work on the ground or on fixed platforms when possible. 
  • When it is necessary to work where there is a risk of falling (1.8 m), always use fall protection. 
  • Fall protection shall also be applied where there is a risk of serious accidents following a fall from a lower height, e.g. if there are special hazards below. 
  • If it is necessary to work in a fall harness, employees must have received the training approved by HS Orka. 

Work on stairs and ladders 

  • All available stairs and ladders must comply with the standard EN 131 Professional. 
  • Work on ladders should be avoided, but if necessary, a three-point contact should always be ensured. 
  • Ladders must be securely fastened or supported by another person. 
  • If a ladder is used to climb to the edge, it must reach at least 1 meter above the edge. 
  • Work platforms on wheels shall comply with standard EN 1004, but see also Regulation on Scaffolds No.  729/2018.​ 
  • Stairs, ladders and scaffolds must always be inspected before each use. 

Cranes and lifting 

  • The crane operator must perform a safety test (pre-use inspection) before starting work. 
  • The crane operator is not permitted to lift a load above people and/or vehicles. 
  • It is not permitted to walk under a load or park vehicles under it. 
  • Parties involved in lifting must never go closer than 1.5x the height of the load, unless otherwise instructed in the risk assessment. 
  • Parties who are not involved in the lifting task must never go closer than 3 meters or 1.5x the height of the load, depending on which one is stricter, unless otherwise stated in the risk assessment. 
  • Lifting equipment must be inspected before each use. 

Toxins and hazardous substances 

  • Materials marked with warning labels must be stored safely and securely. 
  • Contractors and service providers are responsible for ensuring that safety data sheets are always accessible to those who use the materials and use accordingly. 
  • Materials marked with warning labels (such as oil) must not end up in drains or into the environment and must be disposed of as hazardous waste. 
  • Material marked with warning labels shall be cleaned up and disposed of as hazardous waste. 

Resources 

  • Use raw materials and resources responsibly and avoid waste. 
  • HS Orka requires sorting of all waste. 
  • HS Orka has disposal containers for metals, timber, minerals (such as glass, concrete, masonry), batteries, electrical equipment, tires, light bulbs, hazardous waste, plastic, paper, cardboard and corrugated cardboard, returnable packaging, organic waste and non-organic waste. 
  • Waste containers can be found in many places at HS Orka's premises; the main reception is by the warehouse in Svartsengi.