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.