Contractor & Vendor Safety Policy
Safety requirements and obligations for third-party contractors, vendors, and service providers working within GridColo facilities.
The Contractor & Vendor Safety Policy establishes the requirements under which non-customer third parties — including contractors, subcontractors, integrators, service providers, and vendors — may perform work within GridColo facilities. While GridColo welcomes qualified outside firms to deliver specialized services, these activities present unique safety and operational risks: unfamiliarity with site procedures, the presence of hazardous equipment, and the potential for work to affect multiple customers.
The objective of this policy is to ensure that all contractors and vendors operate under consistent safety expectations, that their presence does not disrupt facility operations, and that accountability is maintained at all times.
This policy applies to all contractors and vendors engaged by either GridColo or its customers to perform work onsite. It applies regardless of the duration or frequency of the engagement, and regardless of whether the work is performed in data halls, cages, staging areas, docks, mechanical rooms, electrical rooms, or exterior plant spaces. This policy supplements the Safe Working Practices Policy, Customer Access & Escort Policy, and General Rules & Regulations Policy.
All contractors and vendors must comply with GridColo's safety, security, and operational requirements. No work may begin until GridColo has verified credentials, confirmed insurance coverage, reviewed and approved the work scope, and issued any necessary permits (e.g., hot work, roof access, or lockout/tagout). Contractors are responsible for ensuring their personnel are trained, properly equipped, and continuously supervised. Vendors who fail to comply with this policy may have their access privileges revoked, and their sponsoring customer may be subject to sanctions.
Before performing work at a GridColo site, contractors must provide evidence of:
- • Commercial General Liability Insurance, naming GridSite Technology Inc. as an additional insured
- • Workers' Compensation Coverage in accordance with applicable law
- • Professional Liability or Errors & Omissions Insurance where design or consulting services are involved
- • Certificates of Training (e.g., OSHA 10/30, NFPA 70E) where relevant
GridColo reserves the right to review insurance certificates annually and deny access to contractors who cannot demonstrate adequate coverage.
Contractors must be issued GridColo credentials before commencing work. Permanent vendor personnel receive
Subcontractors must be named individually and may not "borrow" access under another firm's credential. All personnel must display credentials visibly at all times, in accordance with the Credentialing & Identification Policy.
All contractor personnel must undergo a site-specific safety orientation prior to beginning work. The orientation covers emergency exits, muster points, fire alarms, electrical and mechanical hazards, PPE requirements, and reporting procedures. Contractors must also demonstrate familiarity with lockout/tagout (LOTO), hot work, raised-floor safety, and material handling as relevant to their tasks.
No contractor or vendor may perform work in a GridColo facility without an approved Method of Procedure (MOP) or, for routine tasks, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) recognized by GridColo Operations. MOPs must specify the scope, sequence of steps, equipment affected, safety precautions, and rollback plans.
High-risk work — including electrical, mechanical, or structural modifications — requires GridColo's explicit written approval prior to commencement.
Contractors must designate a competent supervisor for every project. The supervisor is responsible for ensuring compliance with this policy, maintaining communication with GridColo staff, and stopping work if unsafe conditions arise. Supervisors must remain onsite while their teams are working and may not leave subcontractors unattended.
Contractor personnel must comply with all PPE requirements specified in the Safe Working Practices Policy. At a minimum:
- • Hard hats, safety vests, safety glasses, closed-toe footwear (staging areas/docks)
- • Flame-resistant clothing (electrical work)
- • Fall protection harnesses (roof work)
Contractors must provide their own PPE; GridColo does not supply PPE for outside workers.
All tools and equipment brought onsite must be in safe working order and compliant with OSHA standards. Tools must be properly grounded or double-insulated, and ladders must be industrial-rated. Contractors may not bring hazardous materials (chemicals, fuels, refrigerants, compressed gases) into the facility without prior written approval and an appropriate handling plan.
Prohibited: Consumer-grade extension cords, personal heaters, and unapproved devices.
Contractors may not interact with GridColo-owned electrical infrastructure unless expressly authorized and supervised by GridColo Operations. Where LOTO is required, GridColo will apply and control the primary lock, and the contractor may add their personal lock under GridColo oversight.
Removal of LOTO devices without authorization is grounds for immediate expulsion.
Hot work (welding, cutting, soldering, grinding, torch use) requires a Hot Work Permit from GridColo Operations. A fire watch and extinguishers must be in place for the duration of the work and for a cool-down period afterward.
Roof access requires a Roof Access Permit and compliance with fall protection standards. Contractors must not disturb rooftop equipment, antennas, or penetrations without explicit written approval.
Cabling that traverses multiple racks, cages, or shared pathways — whether copper or fiber — must be performed exclusively by GridColo or its designated cabling contractors.
Customer-engaged vendors may only perform patching within a single cage or cabinet, subject to prior coordination. Unauthorized cross-connects, unbundled "flying leads," or cables laid across aisles are prohibited.
Work areas must be kept clean and orderly. Packaging materials, debris, and tools must not obstruct aisles or egress routes. Cardboard and combustible materials are prohibited in data halls and must be removed in staging areas prior to equipment installation.
Open raised-floor tiles must be covered or barricaded at all times; tools and fasteners must be secured to prevent dropping into subfloor spaces.
Any accident, injury, near miss, or unsafe condition must be reported immediately to GridColo Operations. Contractors must cooperate fully in incident investigations and provide post-incident documentation upon request.
Medical emergencies must be escalated promptly to first responders; contractors may not attempt to conceal or under-report incidents.
The following are strictly prohibited for contractors and vendors:
- • Performing work without an approved MOP or permit
- • Entering other customers' spaces
- • Propping or defeating doors and interlocks
- • Modifying GridColo infrastructure without approval
- • Consuming alcohol, drugs, or being under the influence onsite
- • Sleeping, loitering, or storing personal property in unauthorized spaces
- Contractors: Training, equipping, and supervising personnel; ensuring compliance with regulations and policy
- Vendors: Ensuring subcontractors are explicitly named, credentialed, and insured
- Customers: Verifying that their vendors meet these requirements
- GridColo: Retains final authority over contractor/vendor work authorization
Violations of this policy may result in immediate suspension of work, removal from the facility, revocation of access credentials, or permanent barring from all GridColo sites.
Customers may be held accountable for their vendors' actions and may be invoiced for remediation costs. Serious violations may result in termination of colocation privileges or referral to regulatory authorities.
This policy is effective upon publication and remains in force until replaced. GridColo reserves the right to amend this policy at any time to reflect evolving laws, safety codes, and operational standards.