CHAS assessment evidence: what contractors should prepare.

Prepare evidence that is current, relevant to your real work and consistent across the submission. Start with the exact assessment and live portal requirements, then map each requirement to a controlled document or genuine operational record. Do not upload generic policies simply because their titles sound relevant.

CHAS currently states that its Standard membership includes a health and safety assessment and demonstrates SSIP compliance. Its higher membership levels add other modules: the exact scope therefore depends on the package selected and, where relevant, the buyer's requirement.

First confirm which assessment you need

Do not build an evidence pack before checking the target. CHAS describes three contractor membership levels:

If a tender specifies a particular assessment, standard or audit level, use that wording when confirming the scope. “CHAS accredited” on its own may not tell you whether the client expects Standard, Advanced, Elite or an on-site audit.

What evidence should a contractor prepare?

For CHAS Standard, the official CHAS material says assessors may review policies, training, insurance information, maintenance records, Construction Phase Plans, COSHH procedures, risk assessments and method statements. CHAS also says assessors take the size and scope of the business into account.

The categories below are therefore preparation headings, not a substitute question set.

1. Company details and responsibilities

• current legal and trading details that agree across the portal and documents;
• a clear health and safety policy where required, with suitable responsibilities and arrangements;
• the person providing competent health and safety assistance and evidence of relevant capability; and
• named document owners, approval dates and review dates.

2. Competence and training

• a role or skills matrix appropriate to the trades and work undertaken;
• current cards, certificates or other records relevant to those roles;
• induction, briefing and toolbox-talk records where these demonstrate implementation; and
• a process for checking expiry dates and arranging refresher training.

3. Risk control documents

• risk assessments and method statements that reflect recent or representative work;
• COSHH assessments supported by current safety data and actual use arrangements;
• relevant permits, inspection records or task-control forms; and
• evidence that documents are communicated, reviewed and revised when work changes.

A template can provide structure, but it must be assessed, adapted and briefed for the particular activity, workforce, plant, materials, site and interfaces. A generic template is not automatically approved or site-ready.

4. Project management evidence

• a representative Construction Phase Plan where your role and work make it relevant;
• site inspection or audit records with actions, owners and close-out evidence;
• plant, equipment or maintenance records relevant to the work undertaken; and
• subcontractor or supplier checks where the business appoints and manages others.

5. Insurance and time-sensitive documents

Upload the evidence required by the selected assessment and make sure policyholder names, business activities, dates and other details agree with the submission. Keep a diary for expiry-sensitive documents. An otherwise strong application can become incomplete when a certificate expires during review or renewal.

What does good supporting evidence look like?

A useful pre-submission check is to test each item against five points:

1. Current: it is in date, approved and not superseded.
2. Relevant: it applies to the company, assessment module and activities being declared.
3. Specific: names, responsibilities and arrangements match how the business operates.
4. Consistent: company names, employee numbers, competent-person details and procedures do not contradict other answers.
5. Implemented: records show the arrangement being used, not merely described in a policy.

For example, a policy may say that monthly workplace inspections are completed and actions tracked. If the portal requests supporting evidence, a recent inspection with assigned actions and close-out records is stronger than a blank inspection form.

Build an evidence register before uploading

An evidence register reduces repeated uploads and exposes gaps early. Use one row for each live requirement and record:

• the portal section or requirement reference;
• the person responsible for the answer;
• the document name, revision and date;
• the page or section that supports the response;
• any expiry date;
• whether operational evidence is also needed; and
• the action required before submission.

Review the completed register as a connected set. If one document says the contracts manager approves RAMS while another gives that duty to the managing director, resolve the discrepancy before uploading both.

Do not create retrospective evidence

Where a genuine gap exists, identify it honestly and put the required arrangement into practice. Do not backdate inspections, briefings or training records. A consultant can help develop a suitable process and future records, but cannot truthfully turn an activity that never happened into evidence that it did.

How should you respond to assessor comments?

1. Read the comment against the original portal requirement and uploaded file.
2. Separate a missing document from an inadequate or contradictory document.
3. Correct the underlying policy, record or process—not only the wording in the response box.
4. Reply directly and identify the replacement file, revision and relevant section.
5. Recheck related answers so the correction does not create a new inconsistency.

If the requested evidence does not appear applicable, explain the company's activities and why, rather than leaving the item blank or uploading an unrelated document. The assessor decides whether the explanation meets the scheme requirement.

When can consultancy support help?

Independent support can be useful where the portal requirements are unclear, evidence is spread across projects, documents contradict one another or an assessor has asked for clarification. A sensible scope may include:

• mapping the live requirements against existing evidence;
• identifying genuine gaps and setting a prioritised action plan;
• preparing or revising company-specific policies and arrangements;
• checking document control and consistency; and
• helping the contractor prepare an accurate response to assessor comments.

IMERI H&S Partners provides independent CHAS application and renewal support and wider contractor accreditation support for construction businesses in Watford, Hertfordshire, London, the South East and across the UK. CHAS alone makes the assessment decision, and approval cannot be guaranteed.