BDC Magazine - Online version December 2015 Issue - 216 | Page 101

CHAS.qxp_feature 2 19/10/2015 09:36 Page 99

Chas...
The safest choice
Chas is dedicated to completing health and safety
pre-qualification assessments to a nationally
recognised and accepted threshold standard

Heavy on manual labour and with the potential exposure to

adherence to government legislation and is a means of ascer-

harmful materials, construction arguably poses the highest

taining that an ethic of responsibility is exercised at every

risk of incident than any other industry. Standards of health

level. In fact, with more than 500 public and private sector

and safety observed by a company can therefore often be

organisations demanding sub-contractors employed are in

decisive in securing contracts. Instantly re cognisable and

receipt of CHAS accreditation, gaining certification can

propounding an independent standard of health and safety

prove the only way to secure certain larger contracts.

in which suppliers and customers can believe, the

CHAS standard is recognised across a diverse range of

Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme (CHAS)

sectors within the construction industry and, as such, works

sets the national standard. Formed with a view to prioritising

closely with related trade associations as it looks toward

health and safety on the agenda, and establishing a universal

inspiring its standards and encouraging betterment. Most

standard of compliance to which all could refer, CHAS is the

recently, CHAS supported the Arboricultural Association

final check in the box for contractors.

(AA) – an organisation representing tree surgeons and tree

To be considered for CHAS compliance, which can then

contracting businesses – in the development of the sector-

be reinforced with accreditation status, companies must

specific ARB Approved Contractor Scheme. As Paul Smith

adhere to the comprehensive regulations outlined by the

Technical Officer at the AS testifies, “CHAS has assisted the

association. A display of risk minimisation forms a funda-

AA greatly in advancing the industry. Our relationship with

mental part of satisfying the scheme's requirements, though

CHAS has significantly raised the recognition and credibility

companies must also be able to demonstrate health and safe-

of the ARB Approved Contractor Scheme, and our tree sur-

ty procedures are in place should an incident occur, as well

gery contractor members have greatly benefited from ease of

as having a declaration policy and completing regular train-

access to the largest safety scheme in the UK.”

ing updates for all its staff. Contractors operating in the con-

Compromising a team of NEBOSH qualified, practis-

struction industry are subject to a more enhanced assessment

ing health and safety professionals, the organisation's 130

process owing to the increased risk to health and safety that

assessors are principal to maintaining the standard the

construction-related operates pose.

scheme imposes. Continually evolving, so as to incorpo-

Of course, those displaying responsible practice, and qual-

rate the changing expectations of both clients and the HSE

ifying for CHAS compliance or accreditation, are awarded

(by which it is regulated), CHAS conducts training on a

significant gains in the way of widening their customer

regular basis for all staff and, as an organisation, meets

appeal. Contractors and suppliers can guarantee their con-

ISO9001 and ISO14001 standards. Introducing clarity for

formity and commitment to standards of excellence in terms

customers and suppliers in the construction industry, and

of health and safety management, as stipulated by

so substantially reducing the time taken to secure contracts

Construction Design and Management (CDM) regulation.

at the tendering stage, CHAS is providing a benchmark at

In short, meeting CHAS standards verifies a company's

which all should strive.