How to Get CHAS Certification in the UK: A Step-by-Step Guide

CHAS Certification Guide for UK Contractors

A tender form may ask for your CHAS number, or a client may require CHAS certification before adding your business to an approved supplier list. These requests are common in UK contractor procurement and often arise when a tender deadline is approaching.

CHAS certification provides independent evidence that your business has met the requirements of the relevant assessment standard. To apply, you select a membership package, complete the required assessment and submit supporting evidence. A CHAS assessor then reviews the information and may request clarification or additional documents before confirming the outcome.

What is CHAS certification

CHAS was launched as the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme in 1997 to simplify contractor pre-qualification and improve health and safety standards. Today, CHAS assesses contractors and suppliers against recognised standards so that clients can use the results as part of their procurement and supply-chain checks.

CHAS is a founding member of Safety Schemes in Procurement (SSIP). SSIP member schemes assess suppliers against shared core health and safety criteria. If you already hold valid certification from another SSIP member, you may be eligible to apply to CHAS through the Deem to Satisfy process rather than completing the full health and safety assessment again. Buyers may still require additional information or a particular CHAS membership package.

The terms “CHAS accreditation” and “CHAS certification” are often used informally, but membership and certification are not identical. Membership is the annual subscription, whereas certification confirms that your business has successfully met the requirements of the relevant assessment.

Is CHAS certification a legal requirement

No. Joining CHAS and obtaining CHAS certification are voluntary. However, a client may make certification a contractual or procurement requirement.

Your underlying legal duties apply whether or not you hold CHAS certification. These include duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and, where applicable, the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. Every business must have arrangements for managing health and safety, and employers with five or more employees must record their health and safety policy in writing.

CHAS is therefore not a statutory requirement, but it may be commercially important when a buyer requires recognised evidence of health and safety capability during pre-qualification.

Who may benefit from CHAS certification

CHAS certification may benefit contractors and suppliers working for other organisations, particularly in construction, building services, facilities management, maintenance, electrical work, plumbing and heating, cleaning, grounds maintenance, waste services, security and other site-based services. It may also be requested by local authorities, housing associations and private-sector clients.

A sole trader working only for private householders may be less likely to need CHAS certification. A contractor seeking work with local authorities, housing providers, principal contractors or larger organisations is more likely to encounter it as a procurement requirement. Always confirm the buyer’s requirements before applying.

How to obtain CHAS certification

Step 1 Check what your client or buyer accepts

Before paying for a membership package, ask the buyer which schemes, assessment standards and membership levels it accepts. Some buyers accept certification from any SSIP member, while others specify CHAS or require additional assessment modules. Confirming this first can prevent unnecessary cost and duplicated work.

Step 2 Choose the appropriate membership package

CHAS currently offers Standard, Advanced and Elite membership packages, which cover different assessment requirements. The appropriate option depends on your organisation, sector and the standards requested by your buyers. Packages and fees may change, so check the current CHAS website and obtain an up-to-date quotation before applying.

Step 3 Register and complete the assessment

Create an account and complete the assessments included in your chosen membership package. The questions may cover health and safety policies, risk management, training, supervision and the management of subcontractors. Provide accurate answers supported by current evidence.

Step 4 Upload supporting evidence

The exact evidence required depends on your business activities and membership package. Documents may include:

• A signed and current health and safety policy appropriate to your business
• Suitable and sufficient risk assessments for the work you undertake
• Method statements or safe systems of work, where applicable
• A current employers’ liability insurance certificate, where legally required
• Training records and relevant competence cards or certificates
• Accident and incident reporting procedures and supporting records
• Evidence of how you select, appoint and monitor subcontractors
• Environmental, quality, social value or other compliance evidence where required by the selected package

Documents should be current, complete and specific to your organisation. Generic templates that contain another company’s details or do not reflect your actual activities are unlikely to provide suitable evidence.

Step 5 Assessment and feedback

A CHAS assessor reviews the submitted information against the relevant assessment requirements. If evidence is missing or unclear, CHAS may request further information and provide a deadline for your response. Address each request fully and update the relevant document before resubmitting it.

Step 6 Receive confirmation of certification

After successfully completing the assessment, you receive a certificate confirming your compliance status. Your business profile may also be visible to CHAS clients through the VeriforceONE Client Portal, depending on your membership and profile settings.

Step 7 Renew annually

CHAS certification is valid for 12 months. To maintain certification, you must renew annually and demonstrate that your health and safety arrangements remain current. An expired certification may affect your eligibility for tenders or approved supplier lists that require valid CHAS or SSIP certification.

How long does the assessment take

CHAS states that a submitted assessment is normally reviewed within a maximum of 10 working days. Its Fast Track service reduces the review period to a maximum of two working days. These periods relate to the assessment review and do not include the time needed to prepare documents or respond to requests for further information. Check current service times directly with CHAS before relying on them for a tender deadline.

Common issues that can delay an application

Applications may be delayed by issues such as:

1. Generic documents. Policies or procedures that have not been tailored to the organisation and its activities may not provide suitable evidence.
2. Out-of-date records. Expired insurance documents, policies or training records can result in requests for updated evidence.
3. Insufficient evidence of implementation. Policies should be supported by relevant records showing how the arrangements operate in practice.
4. Weak subcontractor controls. If you appoint subcontractors, explain how you assess, approve and monitor their capability.
5. Applying too close to a deadline. Allow enough time to prepare evidence, complete the assessment and respond to any assessor queries.

How CHAS relates to other standards and schemes

CHAS Standard includes an assessment against the SSIP Core Criteria for health and safety pre-qualification. Higher CHAS membership packages cover additional areas of supplier compliance. ISO 45001, by comparison, is an international standard specifying requirements for an occupational health and safety management system. CHAS certification and ISO 45001 certification may complement each other, but they are not equivalent.

Other supplier requirements may sit alongside CHAS. Constructionline, for example, is used for supplier pre-qualification, while Cyber Essentials may be required for certain public-sector contracts involving particular cyber-security risks. Requirements vary by buyer and contract, so confirm what is necessary before purchasing or applying for multiple schemes.

When professional support may help

Businesses can apply to CHAS directly. Professional support may be useful when:

• Your health and safety documents are missing, outdated or not tailored to your activities
• An assessment has been unsuccessful or further evidence has been requested
• You are preparing applications for several schemes or standards
• Your organisation has limited in-house health and safety expertise
• You are developing an occupational health and safety management system in preparation for ISO 45001 certification

A competent health and safety consultant can review your documentation, identify gaps and help organise evidence for submission. Tritact® Consulting can support businesses preparing for CHAS certification; however, the applicant remains responsible for ensuring that its documented arrangements are accurate and implemented in practice.

Next steps for CHAS certification

CHAS certification is voluntary, but it can provide recognised evidence of health and safety capability where buyers include CHAS or SSIP certification in their procurement requirements.

Start by confirming exactly what the buyer requires. Choose the appropriate membership package, gather current supporting evidence and allow enough time for assessment and any follow-up questions. Once certified, monitor the expiry date and prepare for annual renewal.

If you would like an independent review of your health and safety documents before submitting an application, contact Tritact® Consulting to discuss the support available.