What is SSIP?

SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement) is a mutual recognition arrangement between health and safety assessment schemes. It means that if you pass one SSIP member scheme, other members will recognise that assessment—so you don't need to pay for multiple assessments saying the same thing.

For contractors, SSIP accreditation has become a gateway to work. Many clients—especially public sector and larger commercial—require it before you can tender or get on site.

The Main SSIP Schemes

CHAS (Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme)

The largest scheme, founded in 1997:

• Best for: Wide recognition, especially public sector
• Cost: From around £150/year for sole traders
• Process: Online application, document upload, assessor review
• Timeline: Typically 2-4 weeks
• Extras: Premium and Elite tiers for additional verification

SafeContractor

Popular alternative with strong contractor support:

• Best for: Good support for first-time applicants
• Cost: From around £150/year for sole traders
• Process: Online portal with guidance
• Timeline: Typically 2-3 weeks
• Extras: Includes useful resources and templates

Constructionline

Government-backed scheme with procurement database:

• Best for: Public sector work, includes buyer database
• Cost: From around £200/year
• Process: More comprehensive verification
• Timeline: 3-6 weeks
• Extras: Gold and Platinum levels include additional checks

Other SSIP Members

• Acclaim
• Altius
• SMAS Worksafe
• Achilles BuildingConfidence
• And many more...

What Gets Assessed?

SSIP core criteria cover:

Policy and Organisation

• Health and safety policy (for employers of 5+)
• Responsibilities and organisation for H&S
• Competent person arrangements

Risk Assessment

• Evidence of risk assessment process
• Sample risk assessments for your activities
• COSHH assessments if using hazardous substances

Training and Competence

• How you ensure worker competence
• Training records
• Induction procedures

Monitoring and Review

• How you check safety performance
• Accident investigation
• How you learn and improve

Insurance

• Employer's liability (minimum £5m or £10m)
• Public liability (often £5m minimum)

Which Scheme Do You Need?

Ask your potential clients which they accept. Common patterns:

• Local authorities: Often specify Constructionline or CHAS
• Main contractors: Usually accept any SSIP member
• Commercial clients: Vary—check their prequalification requirements

Thanks to SSIP mutual recognition, one scheme should satisfy most clients. Start with whichever your target clients mention most.

Preparing Your Application

Documents You'll Need

• Health and safety policy (if 5+ employees)
• Risk assessments for main activities
• Method statements/RAMS examples
• COSHH assessments (if applicable)
• Training records and certificates
• Insurance certificates (current)
• Accident records (or confirmation of none)
• Company registration details

Common Pitfalls

• Generic documents: Risk assessments must relate to YOUR work
• Outdated policies: Review dates must be current
• Missing COSHH: If you use any substances (even cleaning products), you need assessments
• Inadequate insurance: Check minimum cover requirements
• No monitoring evidence: Show how you check safety on site

Maintaining Accreditation

Accreditation is annual. To maintain it:

• Renew before expiry (don't let it lapse)
• Keep insurance current
• Update documents when activities change
• Respond promptly to any assessor queries
• Report significant incidents as required

Beyond Basic SSIP

Some clients require more than basic SSIP:

• CHAS Premium/Elite: Additional verification and site audits
• Constructionline Gold/Platinum: Financial and capability checks
• Sector-specific: Rail (RISQS), utilities (Achilles), etc.
• ISO 45001: Full management system certification

Getting Your RAMS Ready for SSIP

Your SSIP application needs example RAMS that demonstrate competent risk management. Assessors look for:

• Site-specific content, not generic templates
• Hazards relevant to your actual work
• Sensible, proportionate controls
• Clear method statements

DocGen's AI RAMS generator creates professional, work-specific documents that assessors expect to see. Start with our free template and generate RAMS for each of your main activities.