Does a SSIP accreditation mean a company is safe?
SSIP accreditation does not mean a company is safe to work with. It only verifies that a business has achieved a minimum health and safety standard based on documentation reviewed at a specific moment.
SSIP assessments are primarily desktop audits. They focus on policies, procedures, and written risk assessments rather than how work is actually carried out on site.
As a result, a company may hold valid SSIP certification while still having poor supervision, inadequate training, unsafe behaviours, or weak safety leadership.
What it doesn’t measure:
- Ongoing compliance
- Safety culture
- Site-specific risk control
- Competence of individual workers
- Real-world performance over time
To properly assess whether a company is safe, SSIP should be used as a baseline entry check, not a seal of approval.
Meaningful safety assurance requires
- active monitoring
- site inspections
- performance data
- accident trends
- evidence that health and safety is managed in practice, not just on paper.
Conclusion
Getting accredited is a starting point, not proof of safety.
Questions and Answers
Does SSIP accreditation mean a contractor is safe?
No accreditation confirms that a contractor meets a basic health and safety documentation standard. It does not prove that the contractor operates safely on site or maintains good safety performance.
What does SSIP actually assess?
SSIP assesses written health and safety policies, procedures, and management systems through a desktop review. It does not normally include site inspections or observation of work activities.
Can a company with SSIP still be unsafe?
Yes. A company can hold valid accreditation and still have unsafe working practices, poor supervision, or inadequate training if these issues are not visible in documentation.
Is SSIP enough for contractor selection?
No it should be treated as a minimum requirement. Clients should also review accident history, carry out site audits, monitor performance, and assess competence and safety culture.
Top Safety Advisor Tip
Carry an annual safety audit and work out your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and strengths.
Then work on your weakness and make them into your strengths, and seek out new opportunities.
We are here to support you.
