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Published: July 28, 2010

On 12th March 2010, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) published an updated 4th issue of its Defence Standard 05-129 document; superseding the previous 3rd issue dated 01 May 2008.

This standard, produced on behalf of the MOD, provides requirements which must be met by CONDO (Contractors on Deployed Operations) contractors/personnel deployed in support of Operations for the Ministry of Defence (MOD) under contracts containing the Defence Contract Condition (DEFCON) 697 or similar contract terms.

It contains a number of significant changes that affect any contractor, employee, subcontractor's employee or where applicable, locally recruited worker, deployed under a range of discrete contracts outside the British Isles as part of the MOD's operational theatre (Joint Operational Area) to provide commercial services to deployed operations and exercises.


Key points and changes to existing policy are as follows:

• The training of CONDO personnel is the employer’s responsibility. However, the MOD has specified the generic training requirement which should be achieved by all CONDO personnel to prepare for working within an Operational Area (OA).

• In line with military requirements, all CONDO personnel are to undertake CONDO refresher training on an annual basis. Contract sponsors and contractors are to ensure that this refresher training is undertaken.

• The contractor is to maintain detailed records of personnel training and be able to provide to the MOD (on CONDO Form 2) confirmation of training undertaken by the individuals who are listed. Training and briefings are to be recorded on an individual’s P-file (personal record) also maintained by the contractor (CONDO & Guardian)

• The contractor must now undertake and maintain his own risk assessment for a CONDO deployment to the specified locations within the OA. A risk assessment should also be conducted and maintained, for any redeployment of CONDO personnel to a new location within the OA that is not included in the original task.

• Medical evacuation of CONDO personnel will normally be the responsibility of the contractor, unless otherwise notified in the operation specific information by the authority in relation to a specific operation.

• The MOD will provide specific risk information that they may wish to draw your attention to, such as releasable, unclassified threat information, life support and welfare measures to be provided by the MOD, or information concerning Geneva Convention and protocols. However, the contractor must undertake their own risk assessment incorporating the information provided and using third party specialists to fill the gaps.

What should you do?

Make sure your personnel are fully trained according to new legislation – and keep their training up to date.

This July, Pilgrims globally launched ‘Guardian’, its bespoke database service, designed and made available to anyone with a requirement to track employee training and [personal protection] equipment issue. The launch of this new service comes at a critical time for many companies who have contractors working in operational areas for the MOD, enabling them to adapt to the recent MOD changes in regulation.

Guardian is available now to any company with a requirement to track training and equipment issue for a small nominal charge. In addition, new recipients of Pilgrims' training will receive the service free of charge.

For more information on Pilgrims’ bespoke CONDO Training or 'Guardian' system, call 01483 228 778, or email your query to enquiries@pilgrimsgroup.com