Principles and Purpose
Assessing suppliers health and safety competence is usually a lengthy and time
consuming process. Suppliers can sometimes meet one buyer’s Health and Safety standards
but not another. Being CHAS approved reduces duplication as suppliers compliance is
accepted by all CHAS buyers.
CHAS assesses applicants:
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Health and safety policy statement;
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Their organisation for health and safety;
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Their specific health and safety arrangements
to a standard acceptable to our buyers and to others.
CHAS Benefits:
Participating in the CHAS scheme helps both suppliers and buyers.
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Suppliers show compliance with important parts of health and safety law
(the core criteria described in the CDM regulations).
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On achieving compliance a supplier is approved to work for all of CHAS'
buyers.(Some Buyers may require "Accredited" Status)
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Inconsistencies are reduced where some suppliers may be judged compliant by
one buyer but not another.
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CHAS gives guidance on any weaknesses in a supplier's safety management,
including how they can improve.
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Being a CHAS supplier or buyer saves both time and resources
The Stages of Assessing Competency
There are three stages in the assessment process from the time a supplier applies for a
CHAS assessment, through to working for a buyer:
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The CHAS assessment: if a supplier passes this assessment they have shown they can
adequately manage health and safety.
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The employer (buyer) checks a supplier has the ability, experience and resources to
carry out the specific work they have applied to do. The buyer will look at things
like method statements, specific risk assessments, references, examples of previous
similar work, training and available resources.
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Monitoring the supplier when they are doing the work. Buyers will check suppliers
are managing the work safely, carrying out the method statements properly, have
enough resources, liaising properly, managing the site effectively and providing
enough supervision.
The level of assessment at stages 2 and 3 are normally proportionate to the level of
risk they carry. Buyers have a responsibility to monitor suppliers, making sure they
are working safely, in order to protect staff and everyone who may be affected by the
work.