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What is your definition of a Designer? As a construction contractor, when will I be assessed for design competence? What are the benefits in being assessed by CHAS? As designer must I be assessed as a contractor or consultant as well as a designer? I undertake design and build. What are the implications? Who undertakes the Designer assessments? How long does the assessment take? What does the assessment cost? How long is a compliant assessment valid for? What happens if I fail the assessment? Will the assessor give me health and safety or design advice? Do you accept Designer Pre-qualification through any other schemes in the same way as you do for contractors or consultants?

The CDM Regulations (2007) place duties on those who undertake design work. The Regulation definition of designer and design work is wide and could be interpreted to require all construction companys to show design competence. The CHAS National Management Board consulted with its client users and the HSE and considered such a requirement to be onerous. They have agreed that for CHAS prequalification as a designer will be applied to those individuals or practices involved in architecture, civil, structural, building services engineering or building survey.

A company tendering for work that has a design element and the client will share this responsibility jointly. Part of what we describe as the stage 2, project or job specific, assessment normally completed at the invitation to tender or contract award stage.

The aim of our scheme is to avoid repeated applications by designers in safety prequalification. This saves time and money for all involved. In addition, a CHAS assessment may cancel the need for a full assessment when tendering for work with our members.

No. The assessment includes a review of the essential elements of your safety management system.

You will need to pre-qualify as both a designer and contractor. This requirement will be subjected to a review after we have gathered sufficient experience.

The assessor doing a designer pre-qualification assessment requires a mixture of knowledge and experience in both design and construction. Safety In Design (SiD), a highly respected, experienced not-for-profit organisation undertakes the assessments on our behalf.

SiD are contracted to complete the initial assessment within 15 working days of receipt of the application and all supporting documentation and evidence

£250 + vat

Two years

The assessor is required to tell you, in writing of the reasons for your failure. You will usually be able to apply again within an agreed timescale having made suitable changes or improvements to your policy organisation or arrangements. Please note it may be subject to a reassessment fee (£60 +vat) if the work involved is likely to last more than 30 minutes.
In exceptional cases, if the policy or arrangements are poor, you may directed to seek "competent health and safety advice". You will not get a place on the member (client) list if you are entered in the CHAS database with a failed status. If you do not respond to a failed assessment, it could count against you when applying to another member or client.

No. They cannot act as an adviser to you or your practice as this would be a conflict of interest. They will write to you about a failure to achieve the required compliance standard and in some circumstances they may discuss issues with you directly by telephone. They will give written guidance about any concerns but this should not be mistaken as advice.

No, we do not. CHAS is of the view this pre-qualification is a specialist area and do not recognise any other third-party schemes at the moment.