Worksafe (SSIP certification)

Applying for certification is a straightforward process, thanks to assessment bodies like Smas Worksafe. Because we’re part of the SSIP scheme, the Worksafe certification we offer helps you meet all 15 Core Criteria set out by the SSIP governing body. 

SSIP certification streamlines your Health & Safety pre-qualification process, standardising your approach so any clients you work for can be sure you’re safe and qualified for the task at hand. 

With SSIP from Smas, we’ll help you complete your assessment with expert, in-house guidance, making sure you’ve got all your forms and documents in order to give you the best possible chance of passing first time. 

SSIP assessments work based on evidence and proof. Without evidence of Health & Safety documents, like risk assessments, training matrixes, and welfare provisions, you won’t pass certification. 

But that also means that, when you are approved and certified, you’ll have all of your policies and provisions in place to work in the safest environment possible! Showing your commitment to Health & Safety means a reduced risk of accidents and injuries in the workplace. With our guidance, you’ll be able to invest in excellent safety measures, helping you avoid non-compliance fines, save costs, and boost your reputation as a safe business to work for and with. All this means increased profits and better opportunities for business growth.

At Smas Worksafe, we’ll get you SSIP certified – and signing up is easy! Start your application by filling in our enquiry form at the top of the page. We’ll be in touch to talk you through the application process. We’ll only ask you the questions you need to answer, based on the size of your company, your workforce, and any existing certifications, helping you get certified in the most suitable way for your business. If you’re stuck with any of the questions, you can give our team of in-house assessors a call or get in touch via our email, and they’ll help guide you through the process.

Some clients will request SSIP from a certain member scheme. This means, if your business works for more than one client, you may be asked for an SSIP certificate from two providers. 

The Deem to Satisfy (DTS) system allows you to do this more easily. It essentially acts as a passport, making use of the mutual recognition scheme that all SSIP accreditors are a part of. Simply show your DTS passport to another SSIP provider, they’ll then check the details and issue you a certificate for a reduced price without filling out a whole new application form! Find out more about how DTS works here.

The Smas Standard is based on PAS 91, the Publicly Available Specification for pre-qualification questionnaires in construction-related procurement. Even though the UK Government has now discontinued it in favour of higher levels of certification, like the Common Assessment Standard (CAS), we’ve incorporated useful parts of PAS 91 into our Worksafe Plus certification. It’s basically just an extra badge of Health & Safety, helping keep everything standardised and convenient for contractors and clients alike.

When you get SSIP certified with Smas Worksafe, our team of in-house assessors will give you a set of ten questions about your risk assessments, method statements, general Health & Safety policies, and more. We’ll be there from beginning to end to help guide you through the process and answer any questions you’ve got, making the process stress-free.

If it turns out you’ve missed something and we unfortunately can’t grant your certification, we’ll sit down with you and help go through what you can do to improve your business to be more successful next time. 

We also offer a bunch of other certification types, including:

• Worksafe: Our SSIP certification
• Worksafe Plus:Worksafe Plus: Our SSIP + Smas Standard certification, plus three additional Endorsement modules covering ESG and the Building Safety Act
• Worksafe Pro: Our Common Assessment Standard (CAS) certification

We also offer CITB approved training courses, designed to upskill your workforce and boost your Health & Safety standards across the board. 

We aim to get all applicants certified in as little as 1-10 days, and, once you’ve received word that you’ve passed the assessment, we’ll send your Worksafe Certificate to you within the next 3-5 days. This will be valid for 12 months, and will have the SSIP stamp of approval to show your business is eligible and operating to SSIP standards. ­

Smas is just one of many SSIP certification bodies who all work together to support and improve levels of Health & Safety across the UK. For contractors who already hold certification from other member schemes such as CHAS or Constructionline, our Deem to Satisfy (DTS) service can passport your certification across to Smas. This process costs a fraction of the price of a full SSIP certificate, and can take as little as two minutes to complete!

The process may vary depending on factors such as the package you choose and the size of your business. But usually, the process of applying for and achieving SSIP certification is:

1. Prepare documents: Gather key Health & Safety documents: policy, risk assessments, method statements, staff training records, and safety audits.
2. Complete the assessment: Submit your documents as evidence to answer the assessment questions.
3. Get certified: If you meet the standards, you’ll receive Worksafe SSIP certification and can use the SSIP logo.
4. Maintain certification: Renew yearly by keeping policies, training, and practices up to date with current Health & Safety laws.

For a complete guide on SSIP, see our blog that dives deep into how to get your business SSIP certified.