If you’re a contractor then keeping an excellent health and safety record is vital to your success.

That’s why the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme (CHAS) offers a great way to publicly acknowledge you work safely and responsibly at all times.

But what exactly do you need to know about the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme?

Firstly, the assessment is carried out as a desktop assessment meaning no visits to your premises are needed.

However, in order for the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme to be implemented you need to ensure you supply all supporting documents and evidence needed.

The Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme process is a simple one with assessors doing all they can to advise you on what is needed for compliance.

Don’t panic if you receive an initial failure letter or a request for further information after you have sent all the paperwork in.

The beauty of the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme means that you will be told what needs to be improved and then, within an agreed timescale, be invited to reapply when everything is sorted.

A fundamental principle of the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme is to help any supplier improve their safety management if they fail the initial assessment.

On rare occasions, if a supplier’s policy or arrangements are poor, you may be told to seek health and safety advice.

Once you have done this and consulted with an expert you should soon be in a much stronger position to pass the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme in no time at all.