CHAS (Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme) is quickly establishing itself as one of the leading health and safety pre-qualification schemes in the UK. Perceived by many as a contractor’s scheme, the scheme actually caters for any company working within or around the construction supply chain. By offering to standardise the first stage of the CDM core criteria, health and safety, the scheme saves time and resources when main contractors are appointing specialists sub-contractors.

The assessment and approval process is carried out by SSIP appointed auditors who in turn are approved by the HSE. This process effectively audits and evidences how companies manage their Health and Safety procedures and subsequent accreditation confirms that systems demonstrate compliance with important health and safety law. Compliance is then reassessed bi-annually.

SE Controls, a leading specialist in natural ventilation and smoke control solutions in the UK, have now gained CHAS accreditation. Mark Soleil, Operations Director of SE Controls comments, “We have now achieved full CHAS accreditation which provides members with our pre completed H&S assessments to a nationally recognised standard. The accreditation enables SE Controls to reduce the amount of time spent completing pre-qualification questionnaires, and provides clients with confidence that we are serious about our management and health and safety and can meet all of our customer’s site health and safety guidelines.”

Accredited companies are added to the CHAS online database of approved suppliers where prospective buyers can search for compliant and accredited suppliers which can save them time in the procurement process.