SSIP Coronavirus Update
With Coronavirus well and truly taking its toll on the UK, normal practices are becoming more and more difficult and lots of questions are being asked, especially to do with work and the construction industry, with some sites remaining open whilst other have closed completely.
Where does this leave your SSIP Certificate?
SSIP or Safety Schemes in Procurement is an industry recognised scheme for health and safety qualification. Obtaining an SSIP Certificate shows contractors that your business is of a certain standard when it comes to H&S and some of the larger building companies may require you to hold a certificate in order to work for them.
With all that is happening due to the spread of Covid-19, there may be some difficulties and question around SSIP and if you can obtain a certificate now, whilst you may have more time and what is going to happen to an existing certificate you may hold.
For those of you seeking certification whilst you have more time, you may find it difficult to gain access to specific evidence from current projects due to them closing. In order to overcome these restrictions, there are a number of possible resolutions to avoid a delay in submitting applications:
- Suppliers are encouraged to send the documentation that they have available to the registered member. The Registered Member will advise on the applicability of the information and will provide feedback on any adjustment of scope to your assessment. Suppliers may not be able to include all work categories within their scope at the point of certification; the Registered Members are in a position to alter your scope of certification at any time during the twelve-month certification period enabling further information to be sent once it becomes available and the scope amended.
- Suppliers are reminded that the assessment process offered by all Registered Member schemes does not require evidence from a live project. The general assessment specification requires that evidence can be accepted from a project completed within the last 12 months. If for any reason the evidence available falls outside of this 12-month window, contact the Registered Member who are able to make a proportionate risk-based judgement to its suitability.
- Most assessments undertaken by Registered Members are annual re-assessment and all members are required to hold all evidence from the previous assessment for a 12-month period. All Registered Members are requested by SSIP to extend this period of documentation retention to 18 months to support delayed applications and delayed Registered Member Audits. Suppliers can ask the Registered Member for access to the previous information and ask them to confirm which previously accepted documents can be re-used. For example, standard procedures or policies if confirmed they are still relevant / qualifications for workers that are still employed.
Qualifications and Training Certificates:
There will be circumstances over the coming period whereby certain qualifications/training certificates may expire. As the restriction to travel will prevent the re-certification for certain training or card schemes, all Registered Members will be required to follow the developments and recommendations from the training or card providers on the acceptance of expired examples i.e.
SSIP will endeavour to monitor the rapidly evolving situation and will continue to update any guidance for Registered Members and suppliers on a regular basis.
SMAS Worksafe:
If you are looking to gain SSIP now, please feel free to give us a call on 01752 697370 or begin an online application.
We are still able to process applications and our in-house assessors are available to chat with you Monday – Friday if you’re having any issues with your application. Please note, however, that we are unable to take phone payments – but you can pay through our portal.
You can also fill out your application now, pay for the certificate when you know more information about site reopening and receive your certificate within a day so you’re ready to get back on-site, fully accredited.