CHAS Assessment Criteria (Explained for Contractors)

If you’re applying for CHAS, understanding the assessment criteria is key to passing the first time.

Quick Answer

• CHAS follows the same core criteria as all SSIP schemes
• You must show documented evidence, not just statements
• Most failures come from missing, outdated, or weak documents

CHAS sits under:

• SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement)

This means all SSIP schemes assess the same health & safety standards, reducing duplication across the construction industry.

Full CHAS Assessment Criteria

To achieve accreditation, your business is assessed against the following areas:

• Health & Safety Policy
• Arrangements (how safety is managed in practice)
• Occupational Health
• Behavioural Management
• Enforcement History
• Accident Reporting & Investigation
• Fleet Operations (if applicable)
• Competent Advice (corporate & construction)
• Drug & Alcohol Policy
• Training & Information
• Individual Qualifications & Experience
• Monitoring, Audit & Review
• Risk Assessments & Safe Systems of Work (RAMS)
• Workforce Involvement
• Cooperation & Coordination
• Welfare Provision
• Subcontractor Management
• Roles: Contractor / Principal Contractor / Designer
• To apply these correctly, follow our step-by-step guide to getting CHAS accreditation.

What CHAS Assessors Actually Look For

Here’s what matters in practice, not theory.

1. Health & Safety Policy

Your policy must:

• Be in the correct company name
• Be dated within the last 12 months
• Be signed by a director or a responsible person
• Clearly define roles and responsibilities

Learn more: How to structure your policy properly – How to Get CHAS Accreditation Step-by-Step

2. Arrangements (Your Safety Systems)

This is where many applications fail.

You must show working systems for:

• Accident reporting (including RIDDOR)
• Training and supervision
• Communication
• Risk assessments
• Monitoring and review
• Emergency procedures
• Asbestos awareness
• COVID-19 (where relevant)

Related guide: What Are Construction RAMS? A Simple Guide for UK Contractors

3. Occupational Health

You need evidence of:

• Awareness (toolbox talks, posters)
• Access to support for workers
• Training (e.g. mental health awareness)

4. Behavioural Management

CHAS expects:

• A documented behavioural safety approach
• Evidence that safe behaviours are promoted and monitored

5. Enforcement History

You must declare:

• Any HSE or Local Authority notices (last 5 years)
• Prosecutions (if any)
• Actions taken to prevent repeat issues

Important:
CHAS checks are independent, and non-disclosure can fail your application

6. Accident Reporting & Investigation

You need:

• A clear accident reporting procedure
• RIDDOR reporting systems
• 3 years of records, including:
  • Injuries
  • Dangerous occurrences
  • Occupational diseases
  • Incidents involving non-workers

Plus: evidence of corrective actions taken

Why Most CHAS Applications Fail

From experience, the biggest issues are:

• Outdated policies (over 12 months old)
• Missing RAMS
• No competent safety advisor
• Weak or generic documents
• No evidence (only statements)

Fix this early: Common Reasons CHAS Applications Fail (and How to Avoid Them)

How to Pass First Time

To succeed, your application must:

• Be complete
• Be current
• Be specific to your business
• Include clear supporting evidence

Simple Summary

CHAS is not about paperwork; it’s about proving your business can work safely. If you’re unsure where you might fall short, see the common reasons CHAS applications fail.

Enforcement Actions

Details of any enforcement notices (Prohibition, Improvement or Crown) or prosecutions served on your company in the last five years by the HSE or Local Authority and the remedial actions taken to prevent a recurrence. A prosecution or notice will not debar the business from registration, but a failure to declare one could – please note that CHAS will check the HSE public register of convictions.

Accident Reporting and Investigation

Supporting Information:

• Documented arrangements for the recording, reporting, and reporting of accidents (Including RIDDOR reportable accidents).

• Records of all RIDDOR-reportable and other incidents for at least the last three years, including remedial actions to prevent a recurrence.
• Records of any other accidents within the last three years, including the remedial actions to prevent a recurrence. The accident statistics for the last three years, incorporating the following categories: Health & Safety Assessment Guidance v1.0 (website) 05/07/2023 Uncontrolled document when printed Page 3 of 13 Classification: PUBLIC. Chas assessment standards
• Deaths
• Specified Injuries
• Over 3 days incapacitated
• Over 7 days Incapacitated
• Injuries to non-workers
• Occupational Diseases
• Dangerous Occurrences
• Gas Incidents

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the CHAS assessment criteria?

The CHAS assessment criteria are the health and safety standards used to check whether a contractor has suitable policies, procedures and evidence in place. They cover areas such as health and safety policy, competent advice, training, RAMS, accident reporting, workforce involvement, welfare and subcontractor management. How to Get CHAS Accreditation Step-by-Step

Is CHAS assessment criteria the same as other SSIP schemes?

Yes. CHAS follows the SSIP core criteria, meaning it assesses contractors against the same recognised health and safety standards as other SSIP schemes. This helps reduce duplication when contractors are pre-qualified for work.

What documents are needed for a CHAS assessment?

Typical documents needed for a CHAS assessment include a health and safety policy, risk assessments, method statements, training records, insurance certificates, accident reporting procedures, competent advice details, monitoring records and evidence of workforce communication.

What should a CHAS health and safety policy include?

A CHAS health and safety policy should be in the correct company name, signed by a director or responsible person, dated within the last 12 months, and clearly explain health and safety responsibilities across the business.

What does CHAS check under accident reporting?

CHAS checks that the business has documented arrangements for recording, reporting and investigating accidents, including RIDDOR-reportable incidents. Contractors may also need to provide accident records and corrective actions for the previous three years.

Does CHAS check enforcement notices?

Yes. CHAS asks contractors to declare any HSE or Local Authority enforcement notices or prosecutions from the last five years. A notice does not automatically prevent accreditation, but failure to declare one may cause problems with the application

Why do CHAS applications fail?

CHAS applications often fail because documents are missing, outdated, generic or not specific to the business. Common issues include unsigned policies, inadequate advice, weak RAMS, missing training records, expired insurance, and poor accident reporting procedures. Common Reasons CHAS Applications Fail

Can someone complete my CHAS assessment for me?

Yes. Seguro is a CHAS accreditation consultant who can prepare the required documents, complete the online assessment, upload evidence and respond to assessor queries on behalf of your business. Need help preparing your documents? Our CHAS support service can assist.

CHAS Renewal & CHAS Login: Complete Guide for UK Contractors

If you’re a contractor or construction business using CHAS for your SSIP accreditation, you’ll need to keep your certification renewed every year. Many businesses lose work because their CHAS accreditation expires, usually because the renewal process isn’t started early enough or login issues delay the submission.

If you’re applying for the first time, follow our CHAS accreditation step-by-step guide.

This guide covers exactly how to:

• Let Seguro complete the CHAS renewal for you. For a very small fee, we can take the pain away.
• Log in to the CHAS portal
• Start your CHAS renewal application
• Upload required evidence
• Avoid common renewal failures
• Stay compliant and win more work

STOP THINK

There is a quick way to renew your CHAS. We renew over 1,000 CHAS applications per year. We can do it for you. CALL 0800 031 5404 during office hours or complete the form on the link below:

Get your CHAS renewal within a few days with zero pain! from £300

CHAS renewal

You have to renew your CHAS accreditation every year.

The CHAS accreditation process reviews your company’s ability to perform your activities complying with Health & Safety every year.

Documentation is provided on recent jobs and processes you are working on at the time of application. As these could change within 12 months, CHAS has a process where each application is seen as new and lasts for 12 months.

CHAS assesses your Health & Safety, which is done remotely; you get access to an online portal once you have paid. Once everything is uploaded to the portal, you can submit it for approval.

The CHAS assessor will take up to 10 working days to reply to your submitted documentation with their findings.

Renewal costs

CHAS offers three membership packages with different levels of accreditation:

CHAS Standard

The entry-level package includes a health and safety assessment and SSIP accreditation. CHAS membership fees

CHAS Advanced

The mid-range package includes all the Standard package benefits, plus helps you achieve SSIP and PAS 91 accreditation. CHAS membership fees

CHAS Elite

The highest level of accreditation includes all the benefits of the other packages, plus access to the Common Assessment Standard. CHAS membership fees

How to renew your CHAS accreditation

To renew your CHAS membership, you can: 

1. Let Seguro do it for you or:
2. Log in to your MyCHAS portal
3. Review your current health and safety practices
4. Click Renew
5. Complete the renewal application
6. Pay the renewal fee
7. Submit your renewal application
8. Await the assessment results
9. Update your company records
10. Ongoing compliance depends on meeting the CHAS assessment criteria consistently.

If you can’t log in

Common issues:

• Wrong email linked to your CHAS account

• Password expired

• Account locked due to inactivity

• Renewal overdue

Fixes:

• Use “Forgot Password”

• Check the original registration email

• Contact CHAS support if your account is blocked

CHAS Renewal: What It Means

CHAS accreditation lasts for 12 months, after which you must renew to remain certified and visible to buyers.

A CHAS renewal involves:

• Updating your insurance documents

• Refreshing RAMS, policies, and training records

• Uploading evidence of compliance

• Completing the online assessment questionnaire

• Meeting any new CHAS requirements for that year

When to Start Your CHAS Renewal

CHAS recommends starting 6–8 weeks before your expiry date.

Why early renewal is essential:

• Insurance documents may need updating

• Training records may be outdated

• Missing documentation causes delays

• You risk losing tenders if your certificate lapses

Documents You Need for CHAS Renewal

Most contractors will need:

Mandatory

• Employers’ Liability Certificate

• Public Liability Certificate

• Health & Safety Policy

• Risk Assessments & Method Statements (RAMS)

• Training certificates (CSCS, CITB, Asbestos Awareness, etc.)

Depending on your work

• PUWER / LOLER evidence

• COSHH assessments

• SSOW (Safe Systems of Work)

• Subcontractor approval process

• First aid training

If anything expired since your last CHAS assessment, you must replace it before renewal.

Common CHAS Renewal Mistakes

Most renewals fail because of:

❌ Outdated insurance
❌ Missing RAMS
❌ No training evidence
❌ No subcontractor vetting system
❌ Outdated policies
❌ Not addressing changes in legislation

Fix these early, and your renewal will be smooth.

How to Make CHAS Renewal Easy

Many contractors outsource CHAS renewals because the documentation can be time-consuming. A consultant can help with:

• Completing the online assessment

• Uploading compliant evidence

• Creating missing documents

• Fixing non-conformities

• Managing the entire renewal on your behalf

If you struggle with CHAS, outsourcing saves time and prevents failed submissions.

Why CHAS Renewal Matters

Renewing CHAS accreditation helps you:

• Stay compliant with UK health & safety law
• Win more tenders
• Stay active on buyer platforms
• Build trust with clients
• Demonstrate competence and professionalism

If your CHAS expires, many contractors will no longer be eligible to work on certain sites.

Need Help With CHAS Renewal?

If you want fast, stress free CHAS renewal assistance, we can generate:

✔️ CHAS-ready RAMS
✔️ Updated safety policies
✔️ Subcontractor procedures
✔️ Compliance documents
✔️ Renewal checklists
✔️ CHAS explainer videos or PPTs
✔️ Lost your CHAS login

Need help getting approved? Our CHAS support service handles the full process for you.

MyCHAS Portal

You can use the MyCHAS portal to: 

• Manage your profile
• Monitor your accreditations
• Access exclusive benefits
• Upload supporting documentation
• Access accreditation documents and assessments
• Complete assessments and get feedback
• Update accreditation progress and download certificates

You should receive a renewal invitation email about four weeks before your membership expires. Use your CHAS login detail to start the process.

Related CHAS Guides

• If you’re applying for the first time, follow our CHAS accreditation step-by-step guide.
• Ongoing compliance depends on meeting the CHAS assessment criteria consistently.
• Our CHAS support service can manage your renewal for you.

Frequently asked questions

Do you have to renew CHAS every year?

CHAS accreditation lasts for 12 months, so contractors must renew it every year to remain certified and visible to buyers.

When should I start my CHAS renewal?

You should start your CHAS renewal around 6 to 8 weeks before your expiry date. This gives you time to update insurance, training records, RAMS, policies and any other evidence before submission.

How do I renew my CHAS accreditation?

To renew CHAS, log in to your MyCHAS portal, review your current health and safety documents, complete the renewal application, pay the renewal fee, upload your evidence and submit the assessment for review.

What documents do I need for CHAS renewal?

Most contractors need updated insurance certificates, a health and safety policy, risk assessments, method statements, training certificates, accident reporting arrangements and evidence of safe working procedures. CHAS requirement checklist.

How long does CHAS renewal take?

Once your CHAS renewal has been submitted, the assessor can take up to 10 working days to review your documents and provide feedback or approval.

What happens if my CHAS accreditation expires?

If your CHAS accreditation expires, you may no longer be visible to buyers or eligible to work for clients who require current SSIP certification. This can delay tenders, site access and contract awards.

Why do CHAS renewals fail?

CHAS renewals often fail due to expired insurance, missing RAMS, outdated policies, insufficient training evidence, poor subcontractor procedures, or failure to address updated health and safety requirements.

Can someone complete my CHAS renewal for me?

Yes. Seguro can manage the renewal process for you by reviewing your documents, completing the online assessment, uploading evidence and responding to assessor queries.