Safety is very important in construction. One mistake on-site can cost lives, delay projects, or ruin reputations. That’s why many clients now demand health and safety accreditations before they even let you quote.
Getting accredited shows that you take safety seriously, not just for legal reasons but to protect your workers and win the trust of your clients.
According to HSE, in 2023/24, 1.7 million UK workers suffered from a work-related illness, and workplace injuries cost the UK economy £21.6 billion.
These schemes exist to prove that you’re not adding to that figure. It forces you to put proper systems in place, and that reduces risks.
So when clients ask me which health and safety scheme they should pursue, my first question is always: “What do your potential clients demand?” Different sectors and clients have different preferences, and choosing the right accreditation can open doors that might otherwise remain closed.
And since there are so many accreditation schemes floating around—CHAS, SafeContractor, SMAS, Constructionline, and the rest—it can feel like a maze. And let’s be honest, no one wants to waste time or money on the wrong one.
So, I’ve put together this guide, not some generic list, but based on what I’ve seen work for real businesses.
What is SSIP, and why is it important?
The Safety Schemes in Procurement is a group of schemes that all follow the same HSE-approved standard.
The idea is simple: If you’re accredited by any of the member schemes (like CHAS, SMAS, or SafeContractor), you’re recognised across the board. No repeating the same paperwork for every client.
This “mutual recognition” is known as Deem to Satisfy (DtS). It means once you’re accredited under one SSIP scheme, you won’t need to jump through the same hoops again with another—unless your client insists.
SSIP was set up in 2009 to reduce duplication in safety assessments. Today, over 50,000 suppliers in the UK are accredited under SSIP schemes.
According to SSIP, the framework has saved UK suppliers and buyers an estimated £68 million since 2016 by eliminating redundant assessments.
CHAS
The Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme is the most well-known scheme in construction.
I’ve worked with lots of contractors who’ve told me that being CHAS accredited helped them secure contracts with councils, schools, and large building firms. That is why I often recommend it to firms that want to land contracts with big construction companies or local councils.
I like that Chas is recognised by over 2,500 public and private sector buyers and covers SSIP, PAS 91, and the Common Assessment Standard. It also helps that it comes in tiers (CHAS Standard, CHAS Advanced, etc.), so you can start simple and scale depending on what your client wants.
If you’re bidding for work with local authorities or housing associations, CHAS is often the first name they ask for.
SafeContractor
What sets SafeContractor apart is its broader scope. Yes, it’s SSIP accredited, but it also looks at your business’s commitment to sustainability, diversity, and modern slavery prevention.
Also, once accredited, you join their portal of 450+ hiring companies who use the Safecontractor portal to source suppliers.
For small businesses looking to grow, that kind of exposure helps. So, if you’re looking for visibility with big-name clients, this scheme gives you access to their directory.
SMAS Worksafe
Safety Management Advisory Services is one of the fastest-growing schemes under SSIP. They promise fast turnaround times, and many clients (especially housebuilders) use SMAS as a preferred scheme.
SMAS has its own portal, which helps your business get seen by main contractors looking for reliable suppliers. And with a Trustpilot rating of 4.7 from 230+ reviews, not bad at all.
Constructionline (Acclaim)
Constructionline Accreditation is a great starting point for smaller firms or those new to the world of health and safety management. It’s simpler, SSIP approved, and tied in with Acclaim, which is another powerful platform for pre-qualification.
How it works is that you apply via Constructionline, Acclaim does your health and safety part, and once approved, you’re visible to thousands of buyers on the Constructionline portal.
It doesn’t have a massive portal of buyers like the others. But if you’re a sole trader or a new company, it gets the job done and helps you meet prequalification requirements.
And since it’s linked to Acclaim, so you can get both your health and safety and prequalification sorted in one place.
To be Constructionline approved, you’ll need to pass either the Acclaim Accreditation or upload an existing SSIP certificate.
So, which scheme should you choose?
My advice? Start with the scheme that most directly addresses your immediate business needs and client requirements.
You can always expand to additional accreditations as your business grows. If you’re not sure which accreditation is best for your business, I’m happy to provide personalized guidance. You can reach me at info@traininhealthandsafety.com or call +44(0)20 8059 3633 to discuss your situation.
I will provide a comprehensive health and safety policy, method statements for high-risk tasks, and training records for all staff, as well as accident reporting procedures.
And by the way, if you’ve already got one SSIP scheme, you don’t need to repeat everything for another. Thanks to something called “Deem to Satisfy,” you can transfer your accreditation.
You don’t have to start from scratch if a client prefers CHAS but you already have Safecontractor. This mutual recognition cuts out duplicate work. It’s one of the most common tips I give during my consultations.
Related: See how to get SSIP certification!
Need help getting CHAS, Constructionline, or SafeContractor accredited?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone. Many people tell me they don’t know where to start or how to put their documents together.
At Train in Health and Safety, I offer one-on-one support by phone or email. I will help upload everything to the SSIP member portal and give the right responses to scheme-specific questions with 12 months as your Competent Person.
If you’re unsure which path is right for your business, I’m always happy to provide personalized guidance. You can reach me at info@traininhealthandsafety.com or call +44(0)20 8059 3633 to discuss your specific situation.
Whether it’s Constructionline, CHAS, Safecontractor, or another SSIP scheme, I’ll help with all the application for one fixed fee.
