How to prepare for CHAS accreditation.

CHAS the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme is one of the most widely recognised and frequently requested SSIP accreditations in UK procurement. If you're a contractor working with public sector clients, housing associations or major principal contractors, there's a strong chance CHAS membership will be required before you can work for them.

What does CHAS assess?

CHAS assesses contractors against the SSIP core criteria a set of health and safety management standards that cover your organisation's approach to safety across its key elements. The core criteria typically covers:

• Your written health and safety policy and how it's communicated and implemented
• How you manage and demonstrate the competence of your workforce
• Your approach to risk assessment whether you have suitable and sufficient assessments for your activities
• How you consult with your employees on health and safety matters
• How you monitor health and safety performance and manage incidents
• How you select, manage and monitor any subcontractors you use

Key documents you'll need

Before applying, you should have the following documentation ready or in development:

• A written health and safety policy signed by a director or senior responsible person, with a clear statement of intent and the organisational and arrangements sections completed
• Risk assessments and method statements (RAMS) relevant to your primary work activities
• Records of workforce training and qualifications, including CSCS cards, first aid training and any specialist certifications
• An accidents and incidents register, even if it contains zero entries in the most recent reporting period
• Evidence of how you communicate safety information to your workers — induction records, toolbox talk logs or briefing records
• Employers' liability and public liability insurance certificates

Common reasons applications are rejected

CHAS assessors see a high volume of applications, and certain issues come up repeatedly. The most common reasons for rejection or queries include:

• A health and safety policy that's either absent, too generic, or not signed and dated by a senior responsible person
• RAMS documents that are clearly copied from the internet and not tailored to the applicant's activities
• Gaps in training records, particularly for high-risk activities like working at height or operating plant
• No evidence of employee consultation arrangements
• Missing or expired insurance certificates

How BroadSteps can support your application

BroadSteps Consultancy Ltd provides preparation and advisory support for CHAS applications. We carry out an initial review of your documentation, produce a gap analysis, help you create or improve the required evidence, and guide you through the submission process. We can also support you in responding to assessor queries if they arise following submission.