A Simple Guide to Help You Prepare for CHAS Accreditation
Many businesses delay starting CHAS because they assume it will be too complicated, too time-consuming, or they simply do not know where to begin.
The reality is that most businesses already have some of the information needed, the challenge is usually understanding:
what evidence is required
what documents are acceptable
what assessors are actually looking for
and how to present everything correctly.
This checklist is designed to help you understand the core areas typically required for a CHAS application and identify any obvious gaps before you begin.
Step 1 - Business Information
Make sure you have access to:
✔ Company registration details
✔ Employer’s Liability Insurance
✔ Public Liability Insurance
✔ Professional Indemnity Insurance (if applicable)
✔ VAT registration details (if applicable)
✔ Number of employees and subcontractors
✔ Nature of work/services provided
Step 2 - Health & Safety Documentation
Most applications will require evidence that your business has appropriate Health & Safety arrangements in place.
Typical documents include:
✔ Health & Safety Policy
✔ Risk Assessment templates
✔ Method Statement templates
✔ COSHH Assessments (if applicable)
✔ Accident reporting procedures
✔ PPE arrangements
✔ Emergency procedures
✔ Fire safety arrangements
Questions to ask yourself:
Are documents signed and dated?
Are they specific to your business?
Have they been reviewed recently? (usually within the last 12 months)
Could someone unfamiliar with your business understand them?
Step 3 - Training & Competency
CHAS assessors will usually expect evidence that workers are competent to carry out their roles safely.
You may need:
✔ Training records
✔ Qualifications/certificates
✔ CSCS cards (if applicable)
✔ Toolbox talk records
✔ Induction records
✔ Evidence of refresher training
A common issue is not the absence of training it's that businesses cannot easily locate or organise the evidence.
Step 4 - Risk Management
You should be able to demonstrate how your business identifies and manages risks.
This may include:
✔ Site-specific RAMS
✔ Dynamic risk assessment arrangements
✔ Monitoring processes
✔ Equipment checks
✔ Contractor/subcontractor controls
✔ Near miss and accident reporting arrangements
Step 5 - Evidence of Active Management
One area businesses often overlook is proving that Health & Safety is actively managed, not just documented once.
Assessors may look for evidence of:
✔ Regular reviews
✔ Toolbox talks
✔ Training updates
✔ Monitoring checks
✔ Corrective actions
✔ Communication with workers
Before You Submit
Before uploading documents, ask:
□ Are documents up to date?
□ Do policies match the type of work carried out?
□ Is the evidence easy to understand?
□ Are documents clearly named and organised?
□ Have all required sections been completed fully?
□ Is there anything missing that an assessor may question?
Common Reasons Applications Get Delayed
Many CHAS delays happen because:
policies are too generic
documents are incomplete
evidence is missing
records are out of date
submissions are disorganised
businesses are unsure what assessors actually want to see
Final Thought
For some businesses, this checklist may be enough to help organise the process internally.
For others, the time required to prepare documents, review evidence, upload information correctly, and deal with assessor queries can quickly become a distraction from running the business itself.
That is often where additional support becomes useful, whether that is reviewing documentation before submission, helping complete the process, or managing the application on your behalf.
The important thing is not simply “getting through CHAS,” but building systems and documentation that genuinely support your business moving forward.Click on this text to edit it.
Share this post: