Construction H&S schemes: the essentials

The world of construction is an exciting and dynamic one. Construction is what drives development, with new commercial property, schools and housing playing a huge part in all of our lives. The everyday life of a construction worker, however, can be dangerous. That’s why there are health and safety schemes to ensure those who work in construction stay safe and supported. Let’s take a look at three schemes currently in place.

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CHAS

CHAS (Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme) is arguably the largest scheme out there. CHAS works with suppliers and buyers to ensure that the suppliers comply with the buyers’ health and safety standards. The suppliers must apply to be considered for contracts, and CHAS assesses their health and safety standards. Compliance is crucial when it comes to insurance, and ensuring there are as few accidents as possible on site.

CHAS was set up in 2001 by government bodies, with the main aims of improving safety standards in construction all over Great Britain and to help suppliers by reducing the number of safety applications they needed to file. If they are approved by CHAS, it makes it easier for them to match the standards of a buyer who is working through CHAS.

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Constructionline

Constructionline is similar to CHAS. A supplier must submit paperwork to Constructionline to ensure they are deemed safe to carry out the work they are applying to do. The main difference between this body and others is that it pays attention to the company’s finances and human resources policies. This is because the majority of jobs that go through Constructionline are public sector, and therefore the vetting processes are more thorough, to ensure public money is being invested in trustworthy companies.

While these schemes are different, many suppliers, such as joiners, Builders and architects prefer to be members of both organisations or make sure that the contractors they partner up with are up to date with all these schemes, and comprehensively covered.

SSIP

SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement) is not a scheme in the same way that CHAS and Constructionline are. SSIP is an umbrella forum which works to advise contractors and west London architects such as https://www.rbddesign.com  to make sure companies they work with are registered on the various accreditation schemes and their policies.

Many in the construction industry are looking forward to seeing how these schemes can work together even more closely in the future.

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