SSIP Explained: Which Health & Safety Scheme Should You Choose?

What Is SSIP?

SSIP stands for Safety Schemes in Procurement. It's not a scheme itself — it's a forum of health and safety assessment schemes that have agreed to recognise each other's standards. This means that if you're accredited by one SSIP member scheme, your certificate should be accepted by organisations that require any SSIP-compliant assessment.

In practice, this saves contractors from having to apply to multiple schemes. Get one SSIP-recognised certificate and you're covered across the board.

The Main Schemes Compared

CHAS

Best for: Subcontractors and small-to-medium contractors

CHAS is the original and most widely recognised SSIP scheme. It offers a straightforward assessment process focused on health and safety management. Most subcontractors start here because it has the widest acceptance among main contractors.

• Cost: From around £200/year for sole traders
• Assessment: Online, typically completed within 5–10 working days
• Renewal: Annual
• Key benefit: Widest recognition in the industry

SafeContractor

Best for: Contractors working in facilities management, commercial, and industrial sectors

SafeContractor is popular with buyers outside traditional construction — think commercial fit-outs, cleaning, maintenance, and facilities management. If your clients are in these sectors, SafeContractor may be the better choice.

• Cost: From around £200/year
• Assessment: Online, usually 5–10 working days
• Renewal: Annual
• Key benefit: Strong in FM and commercial sectors

Constructionline

Best for: Contractors tendering for public sector or government work

Constructionline is a government-backed pre-qualification scheme. It goes beyond health and safety to also assess financial standing, insurance, and company information. If you tender for public sector contracts, Constructionline is often a requirement.

• Cost: From around £200/year (varies by turnover)
• Assessment: Online, can take 2–4 weeks for the full assessment
• Renewal: Annual
• Key benefit: Required for many public sector tenders

Which One Should You Choose?

Ask yourself three questions:

• Who are your main clients? If they're large main contractors, CHAS is usually sufficient. If they're in FM or commercial sectors, consider SafeContractor. If you do public sector work, you'll likely need Constructionline.
• What do your clients actually ask for? Check your tender documents and pre-qualification questionnaires. They'll specify which scheme they accept.
• What's your budget? If you can only afford one, CHAS gives you the widest coverage. If you need two, CHAS plus Constructionline covers most bases.

Documents You'll Need for Any SSIP Scheme

Regardless of which scheme you choose, the document requirements are broadly similar:

• Health & Safety Policy (current, signed, dated)
• Employer's Liability Insurance certificate
• Public Liability Insurance certificate
• Risk assessments specific to your work
• Method statements for high-risk activities
• Training records and certificates
• Accident and incident records

Keeping Your Accreditation Current

The biggest risk with SSIP accreditation is letting documents expire between renewals. Schemes can suspend your membership if supporting documents lapse. Set up a system that tracks every document's expiry date and alerts you well in advance.

Summary

For most UK construction businesses, CHAS is the natural starting point. Add Constructionline if you do public sector work, or SafeContractor if you're in commercial/FM sectors. The key is picking a scheme your clients recognise and keeping your supporting documents current year-round.