Rank: Super forum user
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I have a new manufacturing client who wants CHAS accreditation, what does he actually need in terms of health and safety? I s it a full health and safety management system ? At present the has very little in place and we are going through his requirements. I know there are companys out there who help with the application but the system needs to be in place first does n't it?
SBH
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Rank: Forum user
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I've helped people with CHAS before - it depends if he's under or over 5 as the form for micro-businesses is simpler. You should be able to dowload the application form & notes from the website.
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Rank: Forum user
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I have previously worked with companies to acheive CHAS, it all really depends on whether they are trying to get it for the badge to win more work or they want to use it as a trigger to improve their systems? Basics of any CHAS application is evidence of the following: H&S Training, Access to competent advice, RAMS, FRA, work force involvement (TBT/Minutes etc), sub-contractor PQQs, accident records and work place inspections (safety walkarounds, equipment, PPE, PAT records etc.).
I have known "professionals" who can guarentee CHAS compliance in two weeks starting from nothing so I firmly belive you can get the accreditation whatever state a business is in, as mentioned it all depends on their intentions as to why they want the certificate.
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Rank: Super forum user
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SBH
Firstly, and as lorna has already mentioned, it depends on the size of the business. If it's less than five, the process should be fairly routine. However, if the company is bigger than that, it becomes more difficult unless there's already a system in place.
CHAS (and a myriad of other similar accredition schemes) are largely based upon a desktop audit of a company's health and safety systems/procedures, and they therefore require the applicant to forward a shedload of documents to prove that there's a workable H&S system in place. As others have mentioned, this includes stuff like site specific RAMS, training records, policies, SoP's, qualifications, proof of CSCS cards etc, etc.
With "very little" in place, I would think it would be difficult to obtain CHAS accreditation at this stage, and would probably be best left until such time as you've completed your gap analysis, and put at least some arrangements in place.
Not quite sure how the "specialist" companies can obtain accredition from scratch in a couple of weeks for a company with virtually nothing in place, but I've never used them, so can't say how they operate, or how they get around the lack of supporting documentation.
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Rank: Forum user
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Originally Posted by: Elfin Davy 09 ![Go to Quoted Post Go to Quoted Post](/Themes/iosh2/icon_latest_reply.gif) so can't say how they operate, or how they get around the lack of supporting documentation.
They produce it. Without digressing into a seperate opinion piece on CHAS to much, I have met CHAS assessors who claim to read only the PDF titles for documented evidence without even opening the file. Equally I have submitted identical applications with matching evidence for sister companies where one got rejected and one got accepted.
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![thanks](/Themes/iosh2/heart_small.png) 1 user thanked fhunter for this useful post.
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fhunter
Thanks for the info - I had considered that as possibly their only option, but then (naively !) dismissed it because I didn’t think they’d be so “unethical” as to go down that particular route! I’ve obviously led a sheltered life :-)
I could be wrong, but I think I might know why you don’t want to digress into a separate opinion piece on CHAS…
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Rank: Forum user
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What is the criteria for under 5 as to evidencing H&S for CHAS?
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Rank: Super forum user
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boigy77
It's been a while since I was involved in a "less than 5 employee" scenario, but from memory (and just as a guide because it might have changed), I seem to recall that it was something along the lines of 2 x Site Specific Risk Assessments, 2 x Site Specific Method Statements, 2 x COSHH Assessments, Evidence of Asbestos awareness training (where applicable) , Copies of training certificates and training records for employees, Evidence of your assessment process for sub-contractors (if applicable). Plus of course you'd also need to complete the application form and submit the assessment fee (which for under 5 employees is just shy of £200 + vat)
Hope this helps.
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![thanks](/Themes/iosh2/heart_small.png) 1 user thanked Elfin Davy 09 for this useful post.
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Originally Posted by: Elfin Davy 09 ![Go to Quoted Post Go to Quoted Post](/Themes/iosh2/icon_latest_reply.gif) boigy77
It's been a while since I was involved in a "less than 5 employee" scenario, but from memory (and just as a guide because it might have changed), I seem to recall that it was something along the lines of 2 x Site Specific Risk Assessments, 2 x Site Specific Method Statements, 2 x COSHH Assessments, Evidence of Asbestos awareness training (where applicable) , Copies of training certificates and training records for employees, Evidence of your assessment process for sub-contractors (if applicable). Plus of course you'd also need to complete the application form and submit the assessment fee (which for under 5 employees is just shy of £200 + vat)
Hope this helps.
and I bet it's worth every penny!
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Rank: Super forum user
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A Kurdziel
I hear what you're saying and wouldn't necessarily disagree with your sentiments. All of these safety related schemes (including the CSCS card, the merits of which have been discussed on many occasions on this forum) are supposedly "well meaning", but the cynical among us might see them in a slightly different way (ie money making rather than safety making). However, I'm much too young to be so cynical, so I couldn't possibly comment personally... :-)
However, their value is I suppose "in the eye of the beholder" and if having such accreditations brings in additional business or at least maintains it (as it often does these days), then it could be argued that it is worth it to those companies/individuals.
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Rank: Forum user
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SBH
CHAS Assessment is now an online process - you have to upload evidence to satisfy a series of requests that are made.
For the CHAS Guidance Notes try:-
https://www.chas.co.uk/Documents/CHAS_GuidanceNotes.pdf You will only be able to see what the exact requests are when the Company has registered with CHAS.
The requests are fairly straight forward but it pays to look at them all first of all in order to see what you need to do overall.
Producing a full Company H&S - Environmental Policy document to which you can cross reference your responses makes it easier.
Once that is done you can prepare all of your responses to suit which then makes uploading much quicker.
What I have mentioned is the process for less than 5 employees.
The CHAS fees for the various sizes of Comapny are shown on their website.
From what I can remember, responses are required for how you deal with the following main items:-
- Environmental issues
- Fire
- First Aid
- COSHH
- Manual Handling
- Portable Electrical Equipment
- Working Equipment
- Work at Height
- Site Specific RAMS
- H&S Training
- H&S Advisor details
- Health Surveillance for – Dermatitis – Noise - Respiration - Vibration
Cheers
Andy
Edited by user 05 May 2018 07:10:06(UTC)
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