Guide
What CHAS assessors check
An assessor works through the core criteria one at a time. Knowing what they look for at each step is the difference between a clean pass and a round of queries.
The short answer
A CHAS assessor checks your submission against the SSIP core criteria, taking each one in turn and looking for clear evidence that it is met. For a contractor that is not a designer, principal designer or principal contractor, twelve criteria apply. The assessor is not looking for perfection; they are looking for a management system that is real, current and proportionate to your business, evidenced by the documents you submit.
What they look for at each criterion
- Policy and organisation. A signed, in-date health and safety policy that sets out who is responsible.
- Arrangements. Clear procedures for managing health and safety, sized to your work.
- Competent advice. Access to a competent person with the right qualifications and, for construction, CDM knowledge.
- Training. A system and in-date records showing people are trained for their roles.
- Qualifications and experience. Evidence the people doing the work hold the right skills.
- Monitoring and review. Proof you check your own work and act on what you find.
- Workforce involvement. How you consult your workforce on health and safety.
- Accidents and enforcement. A RIDDOR summary and enforcement history, checked against the HSE register.
- Subcontractors. How you check the competence of anyone you use.
- Risk assessment and safe systems. Site or project specific risk assessments, method statements and COSHH assessments.
- Co-operation and co-ordination. How you work safely alongside others on site.
- Welfare. The welfare arrangements for your workforce.
For electrical contractors
Electrician CHAS pack · £95
A document for every criterion above, written for electricians and mapped so an assessor can tick each one without hunting for the evidence.
How to make each criterion easy to tick
Assessors move fastest through submissions where each criterion has an obvious home. Label your documents so it is clear which criterion each one answers, keep everything current and dated, and make sure the evidence describes your business rather than a generic one. Where a criterion does not apply, state that with a reason instead of leaving it blank. A submission organised around the criteria the assessor is checking is far quicker to approve than a pile of documents they have to map themselves.
Related guides
Read the CHAS requirements in full, common mistakes to avoid, and how to pass first time.
Common questions
What do CHAS assessors look for?
Clear evidence that each of the SSIP core criteria is met, taken one at a time. For a contractor who is not a designer, principal designer or principal contractor, twelve criteria apply, covering policy, arrangements, competent advice, training, monitoring, consultation, accidents, subcontractors, risk assessment, co-operation and welfare.
Do CHAS assessors check every criterion?
Yes. An assessor works through the applicable core criteria individually and looks for evidence on each, so a gap on any single one can hold up the application even if the rest is strong.
How do I make a CHAS assessment easier to pass?
Label your documents by the criterion each answers, keep everything current and dated, make sure the evidence describes your business, and state clearly where a criterion does not apply. An organised, criterion-mapped submission is quicker to approve.
Does the assessor verify my accident history?
Yes. The accident and enforcement criterion is checked against the HSE public register of convictions and enforcement notices, so answer it truthfully and completely.