Guide
What is SafeContractor accreditation?
A client has asked for SafeContractor rather than CHAS. This explains what it is and whether it is really a different requirement.
The short answer
SafeContractor is a health and safety accreditation scheme owned by Alcumus and a founding member of SSIP. It assesses your health and safety management against the SSIP core criteria, the same HSE-recognised standard that CHAS uses, and issues a certificate valid for twelve months. It is widely recognised across facilities management, utilities, mechanical and electrical work and retail, and describes itself as the largest SSIP provider to hold UKAS accreditation.
What the assessment involves
SafeContractor runs an annual desktop assessment of your health and safety arrangements, and it also reviews wider operational and environmental management. It offers Contractor Certification for contractors working on site, and a separate SafeSupplier verification for businesses that supply goods or services rather than carry out site work. As with any SSIP scheme, the assessment looks for a signed and current health and safety policy, risk assessments and method statements, training records and the rest of the core criteria evidence.
Who accepts it
SafeContractor is recognised by hundreds of buying organisations, including housing associations, retailers, facilities management companies and local authorities. Because it is an SSIP member, a valid SafeContractor certificate is also recognised by other SSIP schemes through Deem to Satisfy, so it is rarely a dead end if a different client later asks for a different scheme name.
For electrical contractors
Electrician CHAS pack · £95
The same health and safety documents an SSIP assessment checks, written for electricians and mapped to the core criteria every member scheme uses, including SafeContractor.
SafeContractor or CHAS?
For the health and safety assessment, the two are more alike than different: both are SSIP members assessing against the same core criteria, so the documents you prepare are effectively the same. The practical choice usually comes down to which scheme your specific clients name, where you work, and cost, which varies by business size and tier. If your clients are in facilities management or utilities, SafeContractor is common; if they are in public sector works, CHAS is often specified. Ask the client before paying for a scheme you do not need.
Related guides
Read what SSIP is, how Deem to Satisfy works, and how CHAS, SafeContractor and Constructionline compare.
Common questions
What is SafeContractor accreditation?
A health and safety accreditation scheme owned by Alcumus and a founding member of SSIP. It assesses your health and safety management against the SSIP core criteria, the same standard CHAS uses, and issues a certificate valid for twelve months.
Is SafeContractor the same as CHAS?
They are different schemes but closely comparable. Both are SSIP members assessing against the same core criteria, so the documents you prepare are effectively the same. The choice usually comes down to which scheme your clients name, where you work and cost.
Who accepts SafeContractor?
Hundreds of buying organisations, including housing associations, retailers, facilities management companies and local authorities. Because it is an SSIP member, the certificate is also recognised by other SSIP schemes through Deem to Satisfy.
How long does SafeContractor last?
The certificate is valid for twelve months and is renewed annually through a desktop assessment of your health and safety arrangements.