Side by side
| CHAS | Constructionline | SafeContractor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Health and safety competence, broadening into wider risk | Broad prequalification for public and large private buyers | Health and safety competence with strong SME focus |
| Who commonly asks | Main contractors, housing providers, local authorities | Public sector, tier 1 frameworks, large developers | Facilities management, retail, mid-size contractors |
| Common Assessment Standard | Recognised | Recognised | Recognised |
| Renewal cycle | Annual | Annual | Annual |
| Effort profile | Document-led assessment | Document-led plus company and financial data | Document-led with SME-friendly guidance |
| Best when | Your buyers name CHAS specifically | You bid for public sector work | You want a lighter route with hands-on support |
Choosing in one pass
Work through this in order and stop at the first line that matches you.
- A named client requires a specific scheme: get that scheme, nothing else.
- You bid for public sector or framework work: Constructionline is usually the safest bet.
- You are a small contractor with no named requirement yet: pick the scheme your two biggest prospects list, then reuse the evidence elsewhere.
- You already hold one and a buyer asks for another: check whether they accept the Common Assessment Standard before paying twice.
The evidence overlap
Whatever you choose, the underlying document set barely changes. This is the pack to keep permanently current.
| Document | Used by | Typical validity |
|---|---|---|
| Employers' liability certificate | All three | 12 months |
| Public liability certificate | All three | 12 months |
| Health and safety policy | All three | Review annually |
| RAMS examples | All three | Per job, keep recent |
| Training and competence records | All three | Varies by ticket |
| Accident and near-miss records | All three | Rolling 12 months |
| Filed accounts or financial data | Constructionline mainly | 12 months |
| Insurance for plant and motor | Where relevant | 12 months |
Where the cost really sits
Scheme fees are the visible cost and usually the smaller one. The bigger cost is the hours spent chasing certificates, re-signing policies and rebuilding the same pack every renewal. Keep one live record per document with an owner and an expiry date, and each renewal becomes a review rather than a project.
Frequently asked questions
Your next step
Two ways to act on this guide right now - one hands-on, one to read next.
Answer a few questions about the trade and the job, get the exact document list to request from a subcontractor, plus a request email and a reminder schedule.
Open the toolCHAS accreditation explained in plain English: what it assesses, which level you need, what it costs in effort and how to keep the evidence behind it current.
Read the guidePut this into practice today.
Start a free Credbase workspace, add your first supplier and share a live document pack in ten minutes.