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Level 3 (Gold) Constructionline
Constructionline have recently launched some new levels within the Constructionline assessment, Level 3 (Gold) is currently being rolled out, so any subcontractors who work with them will need to increase the level they have within the Constructionline online portal.
The new Level 3 (Gold) requires you to complete the following additional questions including policies and supporting information:
Equality and Diversity
Environmental
Quality
Business Information Modelling
Acclaim / SSIP
Supplementary Questions
There are a number of ways you can complete the new sectors, create and submit the documents yourself or approach your current Health & Safety Consultant.
If you require help from a third party consultant please get in touch and we will be happy to let you know the costings based on your individual company needs.
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New levels of Construction line
Construction line have recently announced they are going to introduce two new levels to their assessment process. The reason for the new introduction is to ensure that the “one stop shop” they currently operate evolves and continues to cover all the needs of suppliers and buyers. The new changes are coming into place in summer 2017.
The Level of Construction line already in place will be classed as Silver membership.
The new levels of construction line will be:
Gold Membership – this will feature a much more in depth PQQ covering latest legislation changes including Modern Slavery. This is where you will include a Health & Safety accreditation such as a valid SSIP (Acclaim and CHAS) certificate to the supplier profile.
Platinum membership – this will be introduced to cover high-value contracts or contracts that involve substantial risk,. This will be applicable to contracts that will require an on-premise audit.
Why apply for your Constructionline accreditation?
When you undertake your Constructionline registration, you will be demonstrating that you meet the recognised standards required by any organisation looking to employ you as a contractor. Having your Constructionline accreditation is almost certain to open more doors and lead to more opportunities – in turn generating more business and profit for you, ensuring your own workforce is protected by robust health and safety practices.
We will keep you up to date with the latest information and when these new levels are available. If you have any questions about a current Constructionline application please get in touch.
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Changes to the CDM regulations
There has been some recent changes to the CDM regulations which you can find below:
The HSE has now published a Q&A briefing document to help its own inspectors understand whether work falls under CDM. In doing so it has interpreted the technical wording of the construction definition in an unexpected way.
Good news!
A spokesperson told IOSH magazine that, “where maintenance activity involves construction processes, requires construction skills and uses construction materials, it is most likely to fall within the term construction work. General maintenance of fixed plant which mainly involves mechanical adjustments, replacing parts or lubrication is unlikely to be construction work.”
Note. As a result of this publication the following activities are not considered to be construction work and so are not covered by CDM 2015 :
treeworks, industrial cleaning, inspection/testing of services, cleaning solar panels, and similar: unless any of these works are associated with a building project
maintenance of fixed plant such as servicing boilers, lifts and gas appliances; and
minor repairs, e.g. to doors, floors, walls.
Tip. This work is still covered by other health and safety legislation, but by eliminating CDM from the equation, a more pragmatic approach can be taken.
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SafeContractor Joining Fees: Costs, What’s Included, and What to Expect
What Are SafeContractor Fees?
SafeContractor fees are the costs a business pays to apply for and gain SafeContractor accreditation for the first time. The fee covers the assessment of health and safety systems, verification of documents, and access to the SafeContractor platform.
SafeContractor is an SSIP-recognised accreditation scheme widely used across construction, maintenance, engineering, and facilities management sectors.
How Much Does SafeContractor Cost to Join?
SafeContractor joining fees typically vary depending on:
Business size
Number of employees
Type and risk level of work
Turnover band
For most small and medium-sized contractors, fees are usually a few hundred pounds per year. Larger or higher-risk businesses may pay more due to the increased assessment scope.
SafeContractor fees are normally annual, meaning renewal fees apply each year to maintain accreditation.
What is Your Joining FEE?
Joining fees change periodically. To get an accurate, up-to-date price, contact us, and we will calculate the total fee for you, including all unforeseen costs, such as employee training.
Verification of risk assessments and method statements (RAMS)
Insurance checks
SSIP-aligned assessment outcome
Access to the SafeContractor online portal
Listing on the SafeContractor database
The fee does not usually include the creation of documents, which must be provided by the contractor.
Why SafeContractor Fees Vary
There is no single fixed joining fee because SafeContractor assesses businesses based on risk and complexity.
Factors influencing cost include:
Trade type (e.g. electrical, construction, maintenance)
Site activities and hazards
Use of subcontractors
Management systems already in place
Higher-risk activities typically require a more detailed review.
Is SafeContractor Worth the Cost?
For many contractors, SafeContractor accreditation is commercially essential rather than optional.
Benefits include:
Meeting client and tender requirements
Access to approved contractor lists
Reduced duplication of health and safety assessments
Improved credibility with clients
SSIP recognition
Many organisations will not engage contractors without a valid SafeContractor accreditation.
SafeContractor Joining Fees vs Ongoing Costs
It’s important to understand that the joining fee is only part of the overall commitment.
Contractors must also:
Keep policies and RAMS up to date
Maintain valid insurance
Renew accreditation annually
Respond to periodic review requests
Failure to maintain documentation can lead to suspension.
Reducing Delays and Extra Costs
Joining SafeContractor is quicker and more cost-effective when:
Health and safety documents are current
RAMS are trade-specific
Insurance certificates are valid
Business details are accurate
Using professional compliance support can reduce resubmissions and delays.
Summary
SafeContractor joining fees cover the assessment and verification of a contractor’s health and safety management systems. Costs vary based on business size and risk profile, but accreditation provides significant commercial and compliance benefits. Understanding what the fee includes and preparing documents in advance helps streamline the process.
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CHAS deem to satisfy
The CHAS Deem to Satisfy (DtS) scheme allows contractors to apply for CHAS Standard membership without undergoing another health and safety assessment.
All member schemes listed on the SSIP forum adhere to the SSIP Core Criteria, backed by the Health and Safety Executive.
By mutually recognising each other’s schemes, suppliers benefit from only needing to complete one assessment, while buyers enjoy more efficient procurement processes. This approach reduces costs and has saved over £68 million since 2016.
Eligibility
Contractors must have already met the requirements of an assessment through another SSIP member scheme.
Benefits
Contractors can save time and resources by avoiding a full assessment. They can also avoid paying full price for multiple accreditations.
Process
Contractors can:
Check if they have a qualification that CHAS recognises by contacting CHAS or using the e-form.
Submit their assessment, which will be reviewed within 10 working days.
Respond to any requests for additional information within the 2-week deadline.
CHAS deem to satisfy registered members
Two-Way Deem to Satisfy between SSIP Registered Members.
Approval with a Registered Member can only be used to Deem to Satisfy with another Registered Member; it cannot be used to gain a Deem to Satisfy with a Certification Body Member.
Below is the list of registered members you can use for deem to satisfy:
3Core2 Certification Limited Trading As SafeArb SafeArb
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Contractors working on domestic premises
Contractors working on domestic premises involves contractors building extensions, alterations, new heating systems, rewiring the house, repairing or reroofing premises, etc.
Although the domestic construction sector is not as scrutinised as the larger construction sector that the main contractor controls, they are just as important to the HSE as large projects.
The general public is very aware of health and safety as everyone is subject to it at work. Today, it is common for the general public to video and take images of poor health and safety practices and submit them to the HSE, which will inspect the site.
Domestic construction phase plan CDM
In this article, we will explain the domestic construction phase plan for CDM. Does your project require a CDM plan?
Domestic projects involving only you as a contractor
On these projects, the client’s duties are transferred to you, who must carry out the client’s duties as well as your own. In practice, this will involve you doing no more than they have done in the past to comply with health and safety legislation. Compliance with your own duties as a contractor will be taken as compliance with the relevant client duties to the extent necessary, given the risks involved in the project. As a result of you taking on the client duties, any designers involved in the project will work with you in their role as the ‘client’.
Domestic projects involving more than one contractor
For projects involving more than one contractor, the Principal Contractor will normally assume the client’s duties. The domestic client can choose to appoint the Principal Designer for the project. If, however, they do not make this appointment, the first Designer appointed during the pre-construction phase is the Principal Designer for the project. If so, the Principal Designer will be answerable to the Principal Contractor in their role as ‘Client’ for the project and will be responsible for liaising with them.
Buy a completed construction phase CDM plan
You can buy a completed construction phase CDM plan that is full editable, together with other site management documents, systems and tool.
HSE publish the latest workplace fatality statistics
Insight by
Amanda Lambert
Published on
19 July 2016
Health and safety blog
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HSE workplace stats
The HSE has released provisional figures indicating that 144 people were killed while at work in 2015/2016 – up from 142 in 2014/5.
The figures have been broken down to key sectors:
43 workers deaths in construction
27 deaths in agriculture
27 deaths in manufacturing
6 deaths in waste and recycling
41 in various other sectors
There was a further 103 deaths for members of the public connected to work in 2015/16.
Although these may seem high compared with other statistics available for the rest of Europe the UK to be one of the safest places to work.
Mesothelioma, one of the few work related diseases where deaths can be counted directly, contracted through past exposure to asbestos killed 2,515 in Great Britain in 2014 compared to 2,556 in 2013.
A more detailed assessment of the data will be provided as part of the annual Health and Safety Statistics release in early November.
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CHAS new E form Process
In 2016 CHAS have introduced a new system where you can apply for your CHAS direct on their online portal. Previously you were only able to pay online and had to submit your documents separately.
The online E form Process is not available for groups or for other members of the SSIP umbrella group they need to contact chas.admin@chas.co.uk. You will also need to use the old way of applying if you a Designers or Principal Designer.
The new process is different as you will need to pay for your CHAS on submission. Before you start your application you need to make sure you have everything you need to hand in electronic format:
Examples of Risk assessments and Method Statements in situ on previous jobs
COSHH Assessments specific to your business
Evidence of Health & Safety Training specific to your business and employees
Evidence of Contractor Management & Competence Assessment
plus other necessary documents
valid payment method
Once you have everything in place start the process by clicking here:
Once you have made payment your application will be assigned to an assessor and they will login and commence the assessment. The assessment can take up to 10 working days and this can result in a pass or feedback requiring more information. All updates will be sent to you via the E Forms system.
The assessment process remains the same whereby, if more information is needed you will need to provide this to get your certificate.
Using the E Forms system means that once you have been passed by the assessor a confirmation letter and an electronic copy of your certificate will be uploaded to your account. You will then receive a hard copy of the certificate & accreditation pack post within 10 working days.
If you are unsure if you have the right information or would like some support to complete the accreditation please get in touch.
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New Fast Track Safe Contractor Service
Applying and renewing your Safe Contractor accreditation has never been easier. Safe Contractor have introduced a new fast track service to help to speed up the assessment of your application:
Standard turnaround – 4-6 weeks
Fast Track – 3-5 working days
Fast Track Premium – 2 working days
There are additional benefits to the new service as well as the response time, these are:
Dedicated support officer
Advice and Assistance
Priority audit and certificate
Partial Completion
What are the benefits?
The accreditation is a recognised in the industry and will save you time completing multiple pre-qualification questionnaires (PPQ’s) for your clients.
Compliance – The accreditation shows compliance with health & safety law.
More opportunities – More organisations will work with you.
Commercial benefits – Opens the door for bigger & better contracts.
Time and resources – Helps improve your business’ productivity.
Health & Safety Standards – Improve company health & safety practice.
Communication – A standardised process helps improve communication.
There are additional business benefits that can be found on their website.
Why apply for your Safe Contractor accreditation?
When you undertake your Safe Contractor registration, you will be demonstrating that you meet the recognised standards required by any organisation looking to employ you as a contractor. Having your Safe Contractor accreditation is almost certain to open more doors and lead to more opportunities – in turn generating more business and profit for you, ensuring your own workforce is protected by robust health and safety practices.
Ticking all the boxes to be Safe Contrctor approved
With over 20 years experience here at Seguro we can assist you from start to finish with the minimum amount of input from yourselves.
Our job is make sure that we provide you with the information and assistance to complete the submission and to ensure you can use the documents created moving forward.
The benefits of using Seguro for your Safe Contractor application
We have over 20 years experience in the industry and successfully complete over 500 applications every year.
Save time and money. We fill out all the forms for you.
Win more work. Many organisations require businesses to be registered.
Health & safety standards. Improve company health & safety practice.
Competitive edge. Stay ahead of your competitors.
Communication. A standardised process helps improve communication.
Freedom. Focus on your core business activities.
We can help you to complete all the paperwork needed as well as helping you to implement the process into your business moving forward.
There are associated costs involved, to find out the latest fees get in touchand we will give you all the insights you need to make a decision.
If you are unsure if Safe Contractor is what you need and would like some advice on which accreditation would be best for your company please get in touch and we will be happy to help.
