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How do i know which level i need on constructionline?
Your client should let you know which one their require, if not we would suggest going for Silver as you can always upgrade to Gold if needed.
I’m up for renewal of my CHAS isn’t it a case of just pressing submit?
CHAS is processed online, there is an option to use last years application. There will be new legislation as well as dated documents that need amending so please don’t just press submit.
Do i need a competent person?
This service is needed if you have more than 5 employees as you have to ensure you have professional advice.
Getting third party help?
Ensure that the company you are looking to work with has a history of being in the industry or you will have to go through the same process next year when renewal is due. We have been trading for over 20 years and more than happy to work with you as your partner.
All your Health & Safety needs for 2024 in one place
Insight by
Amanda Lambert
Published on
25 August 2024
Health and safety blog
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All your Health & Safety needs for 2024 in one place.
Here at Seguro we can be a one stop shop for your safety needs. We can help you with one off client requests or by being your competent person providing you with our full Safety package the choice is yours.
We provide a full Health & Safety Management System including a policy, employee handbook and an environmental policy. Expert advice is available for you 24/7.
We can help you to provide the paperwork needed to enable you to show you are capable of working safely. These vary depending on what accreditation you are looking to complete. We stay with you until the accreditation is achieved.
We have a full library of RAMS available for you to purchase from as little as £10. All of our documents are available in word format for you to be able to amend and use as you need in your business.
This is a support service for less than 5 employees, this comes with expert advice as well as access to our online documents and Risk assessments. This can be purchased separately or comes free with accreditation applications for less than 5 employees.
We offer many more services including PQQ preparation, Construction Phase Plan preparation. Why not visit our website and see if we can help you with any issues you have now and throughout 2025.
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What is Builders Profile?
Builder’s Profile provides a service enabling clients and contractors to procure the services of subcontractors who have demonstrated compliance and provided the necessary PQQ information.
The accessible database allows companies to submit their information and keep it up to date easily for clients and contractors to review. If you are a client or a contractor it gives you one location to view all the details you need to manage a supply chain no matter how large or small.
The idea behind Builders Profile is that subcontractors are able to fill in one PQQ instead of having to fill in different ones for each contractor they want to work with.
The benefit for contractors of Builder’s Profile is that all the information you need to select a subcontractor is all in one place. This can help reduce the cost of procurement as well as administration.
There are various levels of membership available
Main Contractor Membership
Subcontractor Premium Membership
Subcontractor Basic Membership
Members of our Partner Trade Associations, Premium Membership
Members of Supporting Trade Associations share a discounted Premium Membership
If you are looking for any advice on how to complete the application and ensure you have the documents neededget in touchwith us today.
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Do you need a Fire Risk Assessment?
1. Who’s responsible
If you’re an landlord, business owner, occupier, or other non-domestic premises, you’ll be the person responsible for fire safety. You’re known as the ‘responsible person’. The Fire Safety Order also applies if you run a bed and breakfast, guesthouse or let a self-catering property as you have paying guests.
Responsibilities
As the responsible person you must:
carry out a fire risk assessment of the premises and review it regularly
tell staff or their representatives about the risks you’ve identified
put in place, and maintain, appropriate fire safety measures
plan for an emergency
provide staff information, fire safety instruction and training
Non-domestic premises
Non-domestic premises are:
all workplaces and commercial premises
all premises the public have access to
the common areas of multi-occupied residential buildings
2. Fire risk assessments
As the responsible person you must carry out and regularly review a fire risk assessment of the premises. This will identify what you need to do to prevent fire and keep people safe.
You’ll need to consider:
emergency routes and exits
fire detection and warning systems
fire fighting equipment
the removal or safe storage of dangerous substances
an emergency fire evacuation plan
the needs of vulnerable people, eg the elderly, young children or those with disabilities
providing information to employees and other people on the premises
You’ll need to appoint a ‘competent person’ to help, eg a professional risk assessor, if you don’t have the expertise or time to do the fire risk assessment yourself.
Your local fire and rescue authority might be able to give you advice if you’re not sure your risk assessment’s been carried out properly. However, they can’t carry out risk assessments for you.
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Health & Safety questions in July
At Seguro we regularly get asked questions that we can relate to other people and what they may be thinking, so we have decided to share some of them on a monthly basis.
If you have a question you would like answering please get in touch.
1. I haven’t heard back form my assessor can you chase them?
As part of the process for applying for accreditation you are supplying the assessor with information relating to your company, as a third party we cannot approach them on your behalf.
2. I am a Principle contractor but i have less than 5 employees which CHAS do i apply for?
When applying for your CHAS application if you require your certificate to say you are a principle contractor you will need to fill in the appendix 2 form. This is classed as the large application and is normally only applicable to people with 5 employees or more. You will also require a competent person resource which gives you Health & Safety advice on a monthly basis.
3. How long do my e-learning certificates last?
These vary for each course and are as follows:
Manual Handling lasts 3 years
Working at Height lasts 3 years
Asbestos awareness last 1 year
4. Can i use your presentations in a classroom environment?
Our Health & Safety presentations are designed for you to be able to use for a number of people in an assessment environment, the presentation is in power point so can be printed out for note taking and also has an assessment sheet at the end for you to assess the participants.
3. What login details do i need for my CHAS application?
CHAS will provide you with a Username and Password for your application, this is the only detail you will need when trying to access your account with CHAS.
We are currently offering a 5 day turnaround for any applications started before August 2024. We want to help you get everything arranged before your summer break. Get in touch today for a quick turnaround!
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Completing a PQQ can seem like a daunting task.
There are lots of sections and information about your company that you may not have had to think about before. Submitting a good PQQ doesn’t mean it will be a winning PQQ but it does mean you have a much better chance if you have shown you have taken the time to complete it properly.
It goes without saying a good PQQ has no errors or information missing and that you have answered all questions as fully as you can.
We have compiled a handy top ten tips list that should should help:
Top Tips
Read the PQQ fully as the beginning so you can understand what is required of you.
When putting the PQQ together take it one question at a time.
Always provide evidence and supporting documentation when asked for.
Ensure your answers focus on the requirements set out in the specification and evaluation criteria.
Provide all of the information requested. If you cannot provide some of the information, for whatever reason, ask for advice or as a minimum give a reason for not providing the information so they know you have not just skipped that section.
Where relevant, cross-reference the answers or responses in your PQQ to the questions as this will make it easier to evaluate.
Be clear on your pricing model and state any assumptions you have made when pricing. This will enable the assessor to see the reasons you may be more expensive or indeed cheaper.
The assessor can only evaluate what you have submitted. The assessor cannot refer to any previous knowledge or experience it has had with you unless it is in your submission
Make sure you are aware of the objective of the contract – this will help focus your submission.
Don’t be put off by the PQQ documentation – you can always ask for help.
A must for every PQQ is that you complete and return the document by the deadline and in the correct format that has been requested. Failure to do those simple thing could mean your PQQ isn’t even looked at.
If you still feel you need some help we are more than happy to see if there is anything we can do.
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Welcome to the October edition of ask Seguro
Please find below the five questions we thought were worth sharing from this months queries that have come into our office here at Seguro.
How does a small building company become CHAS accredited?
CHAS is applicable to all companies and has the same set up process in place, you can find out how to apply by clicking here.
How can you check a supplier on CHAS?
CHAS is part of the SSIP group so you can find out if a company is SSIP registered by logging here.
How much does CHAS cost?
There are different fees depending on your size and the activity your company carries out. Please see the price chart here.
How much to outsource CHAS?
There are various consultants that can help you in the perpetration of your documentation, this is also a service we offer more information can be found here.
What health and safety training do i need for CHAS?
Each company will need various training depending on their activity there are three courses that tend to cover all the requirements and these can be carried out via E-learning. Learn more about e-learning.
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Health & Safety questions in May
At Seguro we often get asked questions that we think other people may be thinking about so we have decided to share some of them on a monthly basis.
If you have a question you would like answering please get in touch.
1. Is e-learning good enough or do i need to send all my staff on a course?
Sitting an E-Learning course that has been verified by CPD is just as good as being taught in a classroom. The benefits of e-learning is that you do not loose your staff for the whole day they can sit the course at a time and place that suits them and you.
2. What is the benefit of working with a consultant?
We are all experts within our own particular industry and trying to know everything your company needs can be a daunting task. If you decide to employ a consultant you can allow them to get on with the Health & Safety part of your business while you get on with running it. You should ensure your consultant has the appropriate qualifications before you agree to anything.
3. I’ve been asked if i am SSIP accredited am i?
If you already have a Health & Safety accreditation you may be SSIP accredited, we have more information available on SSIP and deeming to satisfy.
4. Do i need to sit an exam to be CHAS registered?
To become CHAS registered you need to submit documentation regarding your companies activities and Health & Safety, these are all reviewed remotely. The only “test” you may need to sit is an e-learning course if it is applicable to your work.
5. Why isn’t it cheaper to renew my CHAS?
Each year you application is considered as a new application by CHAS and all documentation reviewed and submitted in exactly the same way, so takes the same amount of time.
