SSIP stands for Safety Schemes in Procurement. It’s an umbrella organisation supported by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Its main goal is to streamline the health and safety pre-qualification process for contractors and consultants (suppliers) who want to work for buyers (clients). It aims to reduce duplication, time, and cost associated with needing multiple health and safety certifications.
Importantly, SSIP itself does not carry out assessments or provide accreditation. Instead, it sets the standard through the SSIP Core Criteria, and various independent assessment bodies (Member Schemes) carry out the assessments against this standard.
What are the SSIP Core Criteria?
The SSIP Core Criteria are the fundamental health and safety standards that all SSIP Member Schemes assess against. They are based on the requirements of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM) and represent the expected level of organisational capability needed to meet health and safety laws.
By meeting these criteria, a company demonstrates it has appropriate health and safety management systems and procedures in place. The key areas typically covered include:
- Health & Safety Policy and Organisation: An up-to-date, signed policy outlining commitment and responsibilities.
- Arrangements: Procedures for managing health and safety (e.g., risk assessment implementation, consultation, training, monitoring, accident reporting, occupational health).
- Competent Advice: Access to qualified health and safety advice (internal or external).
- Training and Information: Ensuring employees and subcontractors receive appropriate training and information.
- Individual Qualifications and Experience: Verifying that personnel are suitably qualified and experienced for their roles (e.g., relevant trade qualifications, CSCS cards, management training).
- Monitoring, Audit, and Review: Systems for checking procedures, conducting audits, and reviewing performance.
- Workforce Involvement: Mechanisms for consulting with the workforce on health and safety matters.
- Accident Reporting and Enforcement: Procedures for recording/investigating accidents and details of any enforcement actions taken against the company.
- Subcontracting/Consulting Procedures: How the competency of subcontractors and consultants is assessed and managed.
- Risk Assessment & Method Statements (RAMS): Procedures for identifying hazards, assessing risks, and developing safe systems of work.
- Co-operation and Co-ordination: How work is coordinated with other contractors/parties on site.
- Welfare Provision: Ensuring appropriate site welfare facilities are provided.
- Additional Criteria: There are also specific additional criteria for organisations acting as Designers, Principal Designers, and Principal Contractors under CDM regulations, focusing on things like hazard elimination, risk control during design, and specific duty holder responsibilities.
How to Get SSIP Accredited
Since you don’t apply directly to SSIP, the process involves getting assessed and certified by one of its recognized Member Schemes:
- Choose an SSIP Member Scheme: Select an assessment body that fits your business needs. Popular schemes include CHAS, SafeContractor, SMAS, Acclaim Accreditation, Constructionline (which includes Acclaim), Achilles, Avetta, and many others. Consider cost, client requirements (some clients prefer specific schemes), and any additional benefits the scheme offers. You can find a list of members on the SSIP website.
- Understand the Core Criteria: Familiarise yourself thoroughly with the SSIP Core Criteria requirements outlined above.
- Conduct a Gap Analysis/Self-Assessment: Review your company’s existing health and safety policies, procedures, and documentation against the Core Criteria. Identify any areas where you don’t currently meet the standard.
- Gather Your Evidence: Collect all the necessary documentation to prove your compliance. This will likely include:
- Your signed Health & Safety Policy.
- Examples of risk assessments and method statements.
- Training records and certificates (e.g., CSCS, SMSTS, specific skills).
- Proof of access to competent H&S advice (e.g., advisor’s CV/qualifications).
- Insurance certificates (Employers’ Liability, Public Liability).
- Records of equipment maintenance/inspection (e.g., PAT, LOLER).
- Details of your consultation arrangements.
- Accident/incident records.
- Site inspection/audit reports.
- Subcontractor assessment procedures (if applicable).
- Apply to Your Chosen Scheme: Complete the application form for your chosen member scheme (often done online) and submit your supporting evidence.
- Assessment: An assessor from the Member Scheme will review your documentation against the SSIP Core Criteria. They may ask for clarification or further information if needed.
- Certification: If your assessment is successful, you will be awarded an SSIP certificate from that Member Scheme, usually valid for 12 months. Your company details should then appear on the SSIP Portal, which buyers can use to verify your status.
- Maintain Certification: You need to renew your accreditation annually by undergoing reassessment to ensure continued compliance.
- Deem to Satisfy (DtS): A key benefit of SSIP is mutual recognition. If you hold a valid certificate from one SSIP member scheme but need accreditation from another (perhaps due to a specific client request), you can often use the DtS route. This allows the second scheme to issue their certificate based on your existing valid one, usually for a reduced fee and without repeating the full assessment.
Achieving SSIP accreditation demonstrates to potential clients that your business takes health and safety seriously and meets a recognised industry standard, often being a mandatory requirement for tendering processes.
