SMAS Worksafe Accreditation FAQ
SMAS Worksafe is a leading SSIP Scheme member that helps businesses to achieve health and safety compliance for work tender.
Who can apply for SMAS Worksafe Accreditation?
SMAS Worksafe welcomes contractors who provide all types of work activities from electrical, groundworks, bricklaying services to asbestos removal and cleaning services. The assessment each company undertakes considers each organisation individually and requests to see an appropriate and applicable documented health and safety system relevant to the work undertaken and business size.
What happens once a company is awarded SMAS Worksafe Accreditation?
- Your company will be issued a 12-month certificate that demonstrates that you have met the standard needed to achieve SMAS Worksafe Accreditation
- This certificate also enables you to then apply for other SSIP scheme accreditations under ‘mutual recognition’ should you need to satisfy specific client requirements
- The SMAS Contractor portal will be updated to reflect that your company has valid accreditation, for your Clients and other main contractors to see.
Why does it benefit our company to hold an SSIP certificate?
As a member scheme of Safety Schemes in Procurement (SSIP), SMAS Worksafe assesses your company according to the SSIP Core Criteria. This is an industry recognised standard which provides credibility and assurances to a large audience, including construction, Facilities Management & Engineering companies across the UK. Holding a valid SSIP certificate means that you benefit from ‘mutual recognition’ and can go to all other SSIP schemes and verify your SMAS certificate to acquire their H&S related accreditations too, following the assessment you have already completed with us.
How many contractors are in the scheme?
There are currently c22,000 contractors registered on the SMAS database.
How long does it take to become accredited?
The length of time required for the accreditation process begins from receipt of the questionnaire and depends on the member’s response time. Times will vary depending on your membership, however, all of our members will have first contact within 7 working days from the initial assessment being submitted.
Members may also choose to take out membership options which enables them to fast track applications. This allows you to have first contact after 3 workings days or even the same day with our Complete Membership.
Will my Clients know I am accredited?
Once accredited, you will be added to the SMAS Contractor Portal which is accessed by many of the UK’s housebuilders and other main contractors. If you have joined the scheme as a direct result of a client request, then you will appear in their monthly compliance report as well as be available to their teams who use the SMAS Contractor Portal to manage suppliers. You can also access marketing guidance on the SMAS website to help you promote your accreditation to the marketplace; as well as order vehicle stickers that you can display.
Am I visible to the other organisations who use the SMAS Contractor Portal?
Yes, you will be made visible as an ‘approved’ contractor on the portal. Organisations will be able to find your company and invite you to tender for new opportunities.
My company uses a lot of subcontractors – can SMAS help manage these?
If you require SMAS to take over the administration of your contractor assessment and provide access to a database of over 22,000 members for you to choose from, you can become a client of the SMAS scheme. Register here for demo access to the portal and to organise a call from a member of our team.