What Is CHAS Accreditation? Requirements, Levels and How to Apply
A customer has asked for CHAS before you can tender or start work. Here is what it means, what evidence you need, and how to get ready without the last-minute scramble.
Almost every UK contractor hits the same moment: a client, main contractor or procurement portal asks for proof that your health and safety arrangements have been independently assessed, and the request arrives with a deadline attached. For many of them, the answer is CHAS.
What is CHAS accreditation?
CHAS, originally the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme, is a UK contractor assessment and certification scheme operated by Veriforce CHAS.
It helps businesses demonstrate that their health and safety management arrangements meet recognised assessment criteria.
CHAS is a registered member of Safety Schemes in Procurement (SSIP), which supports consistent health and safety assessments and mutual recognition between member schemes.
Is CHAS legally required?
CHAS is not a general legal requirement for every UK contractor. However, a customer may make it a condition of tendering, supplier approval or appointment to a project. In practice, that is what turns it from optional into essential.
What are the CHAS accreditation levels?
CHAS offers Standard, Advanced and Elite packages. The right choice depends on the requirements of your customers and the contracts you want to pursue.
CHAS Standard
Focuses on health and safety assessment against SSIP requirements, alongside insurance information.
Typically suits: smaller contractors whose customers ask for an SSIP-recognised assessment.
CHAS Advanced
Builds on Standard and includes broader areas of business risk management and pre-qualification.
Typically suits: businesses tendering for larger or more formal supply chains.
CHAS Elite
Includes assessment against the Common Assessment Standard (CAS), covering 13 areas of risk management.
Typically suits: contractors whose customers specifically ask for CAS.
What documents do you need for CHAS?
Requirements depend on your business, activities and selected package. For the health and safety assessment, you may need evidence such as:
Health & safety policy
A current policy appropriate to your activities.
Risk assessments
Records showing how relevant risks are assessed.
Method statements
Safe methods of work, where applicable.
Training records
Relevant training, qualifications and competence.
Insurance information
Details of appropriate and current cover.
Incident arrangements
How incidents are reported and investigated.
Monitoring evidence
Relevant inspections, reviews and follow-up records.
Broader business evidence
Additional documents for Advanced or Elite, where requested.
How to apply for CHAS accreditation
Breaking the application into clear stages makes it easier to prepare the right evidence and avoid unnecessary duplication.
Confirm the requirement
Ask whether your customer needs CHAS specifically, SSIP certification or a particular assessment level.
Choose your package
Select Standard, Advanced or Elite based on your actual customer requirements.
Review your evidence
Gather current documents and address missing or outdated information.
Complete the application
Provide the requested details and upload supporting evidence through CHAS.
Respond to feedback
Supply clarifications or additional evidence if requested by the assessor.
Why CHAS applications stall, and how to avoid it
Most delays are not caused by a lack of safe working. They come from evidence that is missing, out of date or does not match what the business actually does. These are the issues we see most often when preparing contractors.
Policies that don't match the business
A generic template that mentions activities you don't do, or misses the ones you do, is easy for an assessor to spot.
Risk assessments that are too general
Assessments should reflect your real tasks, sites and equipment, not a standard list copied from elsewhere.
Training records with gaps
Certificates that have expired, or competence that is claimed but not recorded, can hold up an assessment.
Inconsistent insurance details
Cover levels, policy dates and business descriptions should agree across your documents and application.
Nobody owns the application
When evidence sits with several people and nobody coordinates it, requests for clarification can take weeks to answer.
What are the benefits of CHAS?
CHAS can be useful when customers have formal contractor approval processes, but it should be seen as part of maintaining good working arrangements rather than simply collecting a certificate.
Meet customer requirements
Provide the certification a customer requires for supplier approval or tender pre-qualification. It does not guarantee a contract award.
Show independently assessed evidence
Demonstrate that relevant health and safety arrangements have been reviewed against recognised criteria.
Reduce duplicate assessments
SSIP mutual recognition may reduce repeated core health and safety assessments, subject to scheme and customer requirements.
Improve document readiness
Use the preparation process to identify outdated records, unclear ownership and gaps that deserve attention.
What CHAS can and can't answer on a supplier questionnaire
| What the buyer asks | What CHAS can evidence | What you may still need |
|---|---|---|
| Has your health and safety management been independently assessed? | An assessment against SSIP criteria, recognised by other SSIP members | Customer-specific forms, site inductions or RAMS |
| Do you hold appropriate insurance? | Insurance information reviewed as part of the assessment | Current certificates available at tender stage |
| Can you manage wider business risk? | Broader areas covered by Advanced, and CAS under Elite | Quality or environmental certification if the contract asks |
| Have you already been approved elsewhere? | Mutual recognition may avoid a repeat core assessment | Some buyers still run their own checks |
Supplier portals such as Constructionline, Achilles and Avetta each set their own requirements. Always confirm what your buyer accepts before you pay for an assessment.
Is CHAS the same as ISO 45001?
No. They serve different purposes, and a customer may request one or both.
Contractor assessment and certification. CHAS Standard addresses SSIP health and safety pre-qualification criteria.
Often requested during contractor or supplier approval.
An international standard specifying requirements for an occupational health and safety management system.
Focuses on the management system used to control risks and improve OH&S performance.
Before you apply: a simple readiness checklist
Work through this list first. If you can tick every line, your application should be far smoother.
- You know exactly which CHAS level, or equivalent SSIP scheme, your customer requires
- Your health and safety policy is current and reflects your real activities
- Risk assessments and method statements cover the work you actually carry out
- Training and competence records are in date and easy to produce
- Insurance details are current and consistent across your documents
- Incident reporting and investigation arrangements are written down and used
- One named person owns the application and any assessor queries
What happens after certification?
Certification does not remove the need to keep your arrangements up to date. Changes in people, equipment, activities or customer requirements may affect the evidence you previously submitted.
- Review risk assessments when activities change.
- Keep relevant training and competence records current.
- Track insurance and assessment renewals.
- Update procedures to reflect actual working practices.
- Keep evidence organised for future customer requests.
The aim is to maintain readiness throughout the year, not rebuild your evidence every time someone asks for it.
How Goldenpath can help
Preparing for CHAS can take time, particularly when the right evidence is spread across teams and folders.
Goldenpath helps businesses review their arrangements, identify gaps and organise evidence for supplier and contractor compliance requirements. If you also hold, or are working towards, ISO certification, we build one joined-up system rather than separate piles of paperwork.
We take compliance off your desk.
Frequently asked questions
How long does CHAS accreditation take?
Timescales depend on the package, the completeness of your application and whether further evidence is required. Check current processing options directly with CHAS.
How much does CHAS accreditation cost?
Fees vary by package and current pricing. Refer to the official CHAS website for current costs.
Can a small business apply for CHAS?
Yes. The information and evidence requested should reflect the business's activities, risks and relevant assessment criteria.
Do I need CHAS if I already have ISO 45001?
Not necessarily. They are different assessments. Check your customer's requirements and whether existing certification or evidence can be recognised.
Is CHAS the same as SSIP?
No. CHAS is an assessment scheme and registered SSIP member. SSIP supports consistency and mutual recognition between member schemes.
Does CHAS guarantee I'll win work or be approved by a buyer?
No. It gives a buyer recognised, independent evidence for one part of their approval process. Most buyers also review insurance, references, finances and their own site requirements.
Can Goldenpath help if CHAS requests more evidence?
Goldenpath can help review requirements, identify gaps and prepare appropriate evidence. CHAS makes the assessment and certification decision.
Need help preparing for CHAS?
Whether you've been asked for certification by a customer or need help organising the evidence, Goldenpath can help you understand the requirements and prepare your next steps.
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