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Top Five Health & Safety Questions in January

Insight by

amanda

Amanda Lambert

Published on

29 January 2024

Frequently asked questions

Health & Safety questions in January

Welcome to the January edition on ask Seguro?

Please find below the five questions we thought were worth sharing from this months queries.

1. Can i change my name with CHAS?

You can change your name by phoning CHAS on 0208 545 3838

2. Why do i get emails from Constructionline about updating information?

Unlike CHAS you will receive emails from Constructionline as and when the documents run out you have uploaded. These will all have various dates so you will get a reminder email for each section as it becomes due.

3. Do i have to have a risk assessment for COVID19

Any of our clients who are looking for assistance please get in touch.

4. Do i need site visits from my competent safety advisor?

No you can have a competent Safety advisor that looks after your business remotely, if needed they will be available to visit site and help with all HSE issues and requirements.

5. I paid for my CHAS last year but never submitted it – do i have to pay again?

You will need to pay again as your assessment fee will have expired

How can i check if someone is SSIP registered?

Insight by

amanda

Amanda Lambert

Published on

3 January 2024

Accreditations

Introduction

If you are a construction client and are looking to check if the contractor you are looking to employ is SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement) registered, look no further! We will show you how to determine if someone is SSIP registered, giving you the peace of mind you need before starting your project.

Contractor

If you are a contractor looking to become SSIP registered, you will need to select an accreditation company. The accreditation companies we work with are:

CHAS
PQS
ConstructionLine
Safe contractor
SMAS
CQMA
Builders profile
Evetta
Other

The most expensive is CHAS, and the least costly is PQS. Due to the Deem to Satisfy system by SSIP, a PQS accreditation is equivalent to a CHAS accreditation, and for a small fee, you can obtain certificates for both.

The driver for selection is normally your customer; if they insist on CHAS, you can get accredited with PQS and request a certificate for CHAS within the process.

Independent Advice

Feel free to call us, and we can advise you on the best selection for your needs. We have completed thousands of applications and understand the market inside out. We don’t mind which company you select; the assessment process is the same, thanks to SSIP.

Contact us

Checking if a contractor is SSIP registered is straightforward

Go to the SSIP website and click onto the SSIP Portal.

In the search section type in the contractor name and press enter. If they are registered, the SSIP website. portal will give you the registration and renewal date details.

In order to find out the details and check it is the correct company you will need:

  • Company full registered
  • Registered address

Contacting the company and requesting a copy of their SSIP certificate and any additional and relevant documentation is also advisable. They should be willing to provide you with this information if they are a reputable company.

If you are not happy with the work someone has done for you this would not fall under SSIP. You would need to go to trading standards if you cannot resolve the issue with the company. Trading standards website

Testimonial

Ash Electrics

We have now received our Gold award, with 100% thanks to yourselves.

I will share our feedback on your service but just to say a huge thank you, you have always been helpful and supportive and that has been very much appreciated.

With very best wishes

Jane

CHAS or Not?

Insight by

amanda

Amanda Lambert

Published on

12 December 2023

CHAS

CHAS or Not?

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 application 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 is seen in the industry as a measure of a companies ability to deliver their services 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 achieving the accreditation shows you meet the required standard.

CHAS accreditation can help you to gain more work as well as opening doors for you to work with larger clients and public bodies. There is a membership fee applicable and if you choose to get help with completing the paperwork there will also be a fee payable for that process. So the business decision needs to be made by you.

Is the initial cost worth it for the potential gain?

For more information on CHAS and how to prepare the documentation needed please see our CHAS information.

Do i need a Health & Safety Policy

Insight by

amanda

Amanda Lambert

Published on

7 December 2023

Health and safety blog

Do I need a Health & Safety Policy

It is a legal requirement (see *) 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.

Please get in touch if this is something you are looking for advice on.

Seguro Christmas Operating Hours

Insight by

amanda

Amanda Lambert

Published on

9 November 2023

Frequently asked questions

We wanted to give you plenty of notice to our operating hours over the Christmas period:

Close – 22nd December 12pm

Open – 4th January 9am

All services are still available via the website, including risk assessments and making enquiries. All E-learning purchased will run as normal as the system is automated.

We will be monitoring emails on an adhoc basis so send any enquiries to: info@seguro-safety.co.uk

Five new courses to enhance your business!

Insight by

amanda

Amanda Lambert

Published on

26 October 2023

Health and safety blog

Why not try some of our new E-Learning courses,  if you enter EL20 in the discount code section at checkout you will get 20% off each course.

Contact Amanda 

amanda@seguro-safety.co.uk
0151 350 3743

Effective ToolBox Talks and your Business

Insight by

Bob Evans

Bob Evans

Published on

11 October 2023

Health and safety blog

Effective Tool Box Talks and your Business

Tool box talks are short presentations covering specific health and safety topics. They help to break down often complicated concepts so that they can be easily understood.

While there are many aspects related to health and safety and many legal terms associated with it, you can help to cover your legal and moral obligations by using tool box talks.

There are several reasons why a tool box talk can be help your business:

Save time & resources

By using a tool box talk you can save yourself many hours of researching the material, time which could be used to concentrate on running your business. The expectations from local authorities and the government for health and safety is often too great a burden to accomplish without help. Tool box talks give you all the documents you need to hand ready for when you need them.

Legislation

Knowing health and safety law and having it readily available in your tool box talks is an added benefit to not only you, but your employees as well. If everyone knows the law they are more likely to adhere to it.

Tool box talks risk management

Avoiding undue risk is the best form of preventing accidents occurring in the first place. By educating employees on the nature of accident control you minimise the chance of anything

The impression you leave on an individual or organisation can be long lasting and profound and therefore you want them to feel safe and at ease whenever they come into contact with your company.

Cover your legal and moral obligations and protect yourself and others in the business with toolbox talks.

Toolbox Talks are a great way to convey often complicated messages in a brief and easy to understand format.

Download 70 free toolbox talks today

Effective Tool Box Talks

TT1 – Abrasive Wheels
This talk will cover hazards and using portable and bench-mounted abrasive wheels.

TT2 – Accident Prevention & Control
Covers the cause, costs, and prevention of accidents.

TT3 – Accident Reporting & Investigation
Health and safety law requires that the following types of accidents be reported to the HSE:

  • Fatalities and major accidents
  • Injuries resulting in more than 7 days off work or inability to carry on with normal work
  • Dangerous occurrences

TT4 – Alcohol and Drugs
This talk will cover the effects of alcohol and drugs on your safety and others.

TT5 – Asbestos
This talk will cover where you will find asbestos, how it can affect you and hazardous work.

TT6 – Benefits of Safety
This talk will cover how everyone benefits from working on a safe site and the costs of not doing so.

TT7 – Buried Services
This talk will cover gas, water mains, sewers and colour coding for buried services.

TT8 – Cartridge-Operated Tools
This talk will cover before use, safe use, hazards and after use of tools.

TT9 – Chainsaws
This talk will cover preparation for use, refuelling and safe use of chainsaws.

TT10 – Control of Dust & Fumes
This talk will cover some sources and dangers of dust and fumes, as well as examples of precautions that can be taken.

TT11 – Control of Noise
This talk will cover hazards, controlling noise and ear protection.

TT11 – COSHH
This talk will cover risk assessment, hazards, control measures and safe use of substances.                                                                                                        

TT13 – Electricity on Site
This talk will cover underground cables and overhead power lines.

TT14 – Excavations
This talk will cover precautions and accidents.                                                                                       

TT15 – Fire Prevention & Control
This talk will cover fire prevention, precautions, types of extinguishers and actions on fire.

TT16 – First Aid
This talk will cover the following: before first aid, when first aid is required, and basic first aid.

TT17 – General Safety Legislation
This talk will cover details of legislation introduced to protect your health and safety whilst at work.

TT18 – General Site Health & Safety
This talk will cover responsibilities under health and safety legislation and on-site safety.

TT19 – Health & Safety at Work Act 1974
This talk will cover legal responsibilities and penalties under the Act.

TT20 – Health on Site
This talk will cover types of health issues affecting construction workers and the preventative measures.

TT21 – HFLs & Petroleum Based Adhesives
This talk will cover the hazards, storage and use of these products.

TT22 – Hoists and Hoist Towers
This talk will cover safe working practices when using hoists.

TT23 – Hydro Demolition
This talk will cover the dangers associated with hydro demolition and how they can be overcome.

TT24 – Ladders
This talk will cover before-use checks, use of ladders and hazards.

TT25 – Lead Hazards
This talk will cover the effects of lead on the body, the methods of controlling exposure and sources of exposure.

TT26 – Legal Duties of Employees
This talk will cover the legal duties of employees under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and regulations.

TT27 – Lifting Accessories
This talk will cover slings, chains, shackles, hooks and eyebolts.

TT28 – Lifting Equipment & Operations
This talk will cover the procedures to follow to ensure that lifting operations are carried out in a safe manner.

TT29 – LPG & Other Compressed Gases
This talk will cover hazards, use, storage and transport.

TT30 – Manual Handling
This talk will cover considerations and good techniques for manual handling.

TT31 – Mobile Elevating Work Platforms
This talk will cover the hazards and safe operating methods for MEWPs.

TT32 – Mobile Plant
This talk will cover the dangers associated with mobile plant and how they can be overcome.

TT33 – Mobile Scaffold Towers
This talk will cover erection, use, stability and hazards.

TT34 – Needle-stick Injuries
This talk will cover the actions you should take if you discover a needle and if you prick your skin with it.

TT35 – Personal Hygiene
This talk will cover the price that you may have to pay for poor standards of personal hygiene and what you can do to prevent it.

TT36 – Personal Protective Equipment
This talk will cover the measures necessary to ensure that the use of PPE is effective.

TT37 – Piling
This talk will cover The dangers and precautions to be taken.

TT38 – Plant & Equipment
This talk will cover safe operating procedures for plants and equipment; please note that lifting equipment, woodworking machines, MEWP and electrical hand tools are covered in other toolbox talks

TT39 – Pollution Control
This talk will cover sources of pollution and ways in which operatives can ensure that they don’t contribute to the pollution of the environment.

TT40 – Portable, Hand-held Tools
This talk will cover before-use checks, the use of electric tools and hazards.

TT41 – Powers of the HSE
This talk will cover what you should be aware of and what to do if an inspector visits your place of work.

TT42 – Protection of Eyes
This talk will cover hazards and wearing eye protection.

TT43 – Protection of Skin
This talk will cover hazards to the skin and precautions to protect the skin.

TT44 – Risk Assessment & Method Statements
This talk will cover what risk assessments and method statements mean to you.

TT45 – Road & Street Safety
This talk will cover the precautions necessary to protect operatives and road users.

TT46 – Safe Stacking of Materials
This talk will cover general points and stacking of bricks, timber, pipes and prefabricated panels.

TT47 – Safe Working at Height
The talk covers the hazards of working on roofs and safety when working at height.

TT48 – Safety in Demolition
This talk will cover before and during the demolition, as well as hazards on the demolition site

TT49 – Safety Inspections & Consultation
This talk will cover the benefits of safety inspections and consultation.

TT50 – Safety Nets & Suspension Equipment
This talk will cover items to be considered before, during and after using safety nets and suspension equipment.

TT51 – Safety with Steelwork
This talk will cover the hazards associated with the erection of steelwork and the precautions to be taken.

TT52 – Security on Site
This talk will cover the hazards to unauthorised visitors and ways of preventing unauthorised access.   

TT53 – Signallers and Slingers
This talk will cover lifting gear, before lifting, during lifting and potential hazards

TT54 – Site Transport
This talk will cover the dangers associated with site transport and how they can be overcome.

TT55 – Slips, Trips and Falls
This talk will cover the causes and prevention of slips, trips and falls.

TT56 – Sun Safety
This talk will cover the facts and statistics about skin cancer, who is at risk and how to protect yourself.

TT57 – System Scaffolds
This talk covers safety features, which are specific system scaffolds. In addition to other safety features that are common to all scaffolds,

TT58 – Trackside Safety
This talk will cover some hazards and precautions associated with working on railways.

TT59 – Trestles and Stepladders
This talk will cover folding adjustable trestles and stepladders.

TT60 – Tube & Fittings Scaffolding
This talk will cover access, loading, hazards, inspection and security.

TT61 – Vehicle Fuels
This talk will cover the hazards created by different fuels and the precautions necessary.

TT62 – Vibration
This talk will cover the sources, effects and methods of overcoming excessive vibration.

TT63 – Waste Management
This talk will cover the risks to health and safety resulting from poor housekeeping.

TT64 – Water Jetting
This talk will cover the dangers associated with water jetting and how they can be overcome.

TT65 – Weil’s Disease
This talk will cover the effects and symptoms of Weil’s disease, the measures you should take to avoid it, and who may be at risk.

TT66 – Welfare Arrangements
This talk will cover the factors determining whether site welfare facilities are adequate.

TT67 – Woodworking Machines
This talk will cover the safety precautions in the use of hand-held circular saws and floor-mounted woodworking machines.

TT68 – Working in Confined Spaces
This talk will cover hazards, such as before entry, work in confined spaces, and emergency procedures.

TT69 – Working over Water
This talk will cover the prevention of drowning and rescue from the water.

TT70 – Young People on Site
This talk will cover why young people are vulnerable and what we should all be doing to safeguard their health and safety on site.

Download 70 free toolbox talks today

Health & Safety Questions For September

Insight by

amanda

Amanda Lambert

Published on

28 September 2023

Frequently asked questions

Health & Safety Questions for September

Please see below the questions we would like to share from September, if you have any questions you would like us to answer please let us know.

Contact number for CHAS, Constructionline and Safe Contractor:

CHAS – 0345 521 9111

Safe Contractor – 02920 856 840

Constructionline – 0333 300 3066

Why do i need to do Silver and Gold for Constructionline?

The two levels on Constructionline are to further assess your company in all aspects of business. Some clients require these levels to be completed in order to be on their supplier list.

Why do i have to pay more for the additional Constructionline levels?

The levels are chargeable as they have to be verified this means an assessor has to spend the time to go through your documents.

Why cant i be my own competent person?

In order to be deemed as competent in Health & Safety you need to be trained to NEBOSH or above, if you have this you can represent yourself.

Health & Safety Questions August

Insight by

amanda

Amanda Lambert

Published on

22 August 2023

Frequently asked questions

Welcome to our Health & Safety Questions for August

I need to be SSIP accredited?

There are a number of schemes that cover SSIP please see our blog on which one would be best for you.

What does Deem to satisfy mean?

This is when you can use a certificate you already have in place to gain another one, please read our blog for more information.

How much does it cost to get Safe Contractor?

The fees for Safe Contractor is based on number of employees, you can get more information by visiting their website.

Is CHAS worth the money?

CHAS is normally an accreditation that a company gets because they have been asked for it by it client. The value of this can vary per company and is ultimately a business decision.

How do i get on Constructionline?

You can register on constructionline by visiting their site. You will need to pay your joining fee and then you get access to the online portal, you will then be able to see the information that is needed to complete the application. If you are unsure about the paperwork needed please get in touch.

Applying for CHAS and Constructionline

Insight by

amanda

Amanda Lambert

Published on

4 August 2023

CHAS

Applying for CHAS and Constructionline

If you looking to apply for both CHAS and Constructionline there is a process to follow to make the application a little less daunting:

CHAS

CHAS is an assessment of your Health & Safety documentation, this is assessed remotely through an online portal. This accreditation is also part of the SSIP umbrella group so you are able to use this if you are asked for any other accreditation that falls under the group should you need too.

Constructionline

Constructionline is an online assessment of your Business this includes finance, quality, equal opportunities and Health & Safety. You can use your CHAS certificate to satisfy the documentation needed for the Health & Safety Section of Constructionline.

In order to get both accreditations it is recommended that you get your CHAS first and then Constructionline. Both need to have the assessment fee paid upfront and then you are able to access your application to see the documentation needed to complete. If you feel you need some help to get everything needed please get in touch.