CHAS or NO CHAS?

Are you thinking about getting your CHAS accreditation but not sure if it is the right one for you and your business?

Most of the requests we get to help people with their CHAS applications are from companies who have been asked to have CHAS by a client that they are working with for the first time or for a tender they are applying for.

CHAS is part of the SSIP umbrella group, so it is seen in the industry as a measure of a company’s ability to deliver its services while complying with Health & Safety. As CHAS measures the Health & Safety process within your company, looking at your risk assessments and method statements that you use on current projects to achieve the accreditation shows you meet the required standard.

The accreditation can help you gain more work and open doors for you to work with larger clients and public bodies. A membership fee is applicable, and if you choose to get help with completing the paperwork, there will also be a fee payable for that process. So, you need to make a business decision.

Is the initial cost worth it for the potential gain?

Learn more about SSIP

We have a series of articles where you can learn more about SSIP. The list of articles is below:

What is SSIP

SSIP accreditation

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Do I need a Health & Safety Policy

It is a legal requirement to have a Health & Safety Policy in place in you have more than 5 employees. Employees are defined as someone who you pay through the PAYE system, this does not include anyone who you use as a subcontractor.

Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. Often referred to as HASAW or HSW, this Act of Parliament is the main piece of UK health and safety legislation. It places a duty on all employers “to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work” of all their employees.

Less than 5 employees

There may also be a time when you have less than 5 employees and you are asked for a Health & Safety Policy. This can occur if you want to become a supplier to a large company who expect a policy no matter how many employees you have. If this is their policy they will expect it from every supplier with no exception, we can help you to develop a company policy at a reasonable price.

How to write the policy

A policy is a written statement which has three essential parts:

1) Health & Safety Policy

The health and safety policy details a statement of intent. The statement of intent details your aims and objectives, health and safety policy, processes and systems to prevent accidents, train your employees, supply PPE, etc. The policy is signed and dated by the most senior person, the managing director.

(2) Organisation of Health and Safety – Roles and Responsibilities

The organisation of health and safety is best done by developing an organisation chart, with the most senior person at the top, then detailing the people who are responsible for the day-to-day running of all matters concerning health and safety. An example is:

• Managing director
• Health and safety advisor
• Fire safety manager
• Health and safety training manager
• Risk assessments and method statements manager
• PPE manager
• Control of substances hazardous to health COSHH manager

In small businesses, one person may have many roles

3) Arrangements for health and safety – How are risks managed?

The arrangements for health and safety should detail how the organisation aims to achieve its aims. For example:

• Develop risk assessments
• Training of people
• Consulting with people
• Fire and emergency arrangements
• First aid arrangements
• Reporting of accidents, injuries and dangerous incidents
• Arrangements for working at height, manual handling, etc.

Please get in touch if you would like some free advise. Complete out contact form or call 0800 031 5404.

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