The Safety Schemes in Procurement (SSIP) is a pivotal risk management framework in the UK designed to enhance health and safety in procurement. As one of the founding members of the SSIP scheme, allow us to walk you through its origins, key components, and the benefits it brings to the procurement process.
Designed as a streamlined procurement solution for businesses in the UK, SSIP plays a vital role in enhancing health and safety standards. This guide sheds light on the SSIP’s important role in pulling together multiple health and safety schemes into a single SSIP certification.
SSIP Meaning And Purpose
SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement) is an umbrella body for assessment schemes established to reduce both duplication and costs in health and safety assessments for both clients (also known as buyer-based organisations) and contractors (or suppliers). The SSIP system addresses a significant challenge for contractors: the need to satisfy multiple health and safety schemes.
By obtaining an SSIP accreditation, contractors fulfil the criteria for all SSIP member schemes, circumventing the need for multiple assessments and fees.
History Of SSIP
Founded in May 2009, SSIP emerged from a UK Government report titled Accelerating the SME economic engine: through transparent, simple and strategic procurement. Endorsed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), SSIP seeks to simplify prequalification and promote mutual recognition among member schemes.
The 2007 revision of the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations, which introduced Stage 1 Core Criteria for health and safety competence in construction, created an opportunity for separate health and safety prequalification schemes to recognise and support mutual recognition between them. Together, these schemes would create the SSIP Forum, of which CHAS is one of the founding member schemes.
Related Reading: Alex Minett, Head of Products and Markets at CHAS, Has Been Appointed to the SSIP Board of Directors
Key Components Of SSIP
As a membership body, SSIP isn’t an assessment scheme itself but encompasses various registered assessment schemes. Its key aim is to reduce redundancy and expenses associated with health and safety assessments.
For instance, if you’re a contractor looking to acquire a construction health and safety certificate from CHAS, an SSIP member scheme, you will see us prominently displaying the SSIP logo on our site — indicating compliance with the scheme’s standards.
Additionally, if a contractor with a certificate from one member scheme is asked to join another, they can benefit from mutual recognition, often obtaining a “Deem to Satisfy” certificate without undergoing another assessment process, usually at a reduced fee. This mutual recognition is integral to SSIP’s objective of streamlining safety certifications across the industry.
Related Reading: How To Become A Contractor (In UK Construction)
Benefits Of SSIP For Businesses And Contractors
1. Benefits For Businesses
For businesses, SSIP accreditation simplifies the contractor selection process. Contractors with SSIP certification effectively show proof that they are actively ensuring compliance with safety standards and reducing risk exposure. SSIP also streamlines procurement by eliminating the need for repetitive safety assessments, saving time and money in the process.
2. Benefits For Contractors
For contractors, this accreditation enhances their marketability and accessibility to projects, as it’s frequently a basic prerequisite for bidding on tenders. This mutual benefit significantly bolsters the safety culture within the procurement process, creating a more secure and efficient environment for all parties involved.
Related Reading: What Is Safety Culture? Your Guide To Positive Safety Culture
What Is The SSIP Accreditation Process Like?
The process of obtaining SSIP accreditation is relatively simple and follows a typical workflow:
- It begins with a comprehensive self-assessment of a company’s health and safety policies and procedures.
- An SSIP member scheme then reviews this self-evaluation.
- After rigorous verification of compliance with SSIP standards, accreditation is granted.
This structured approach ensures businesses align with nationally recognised safety standards, emphasising the importance of continual improvement in health and safety management.
Challenges And Considerations In Implementing SSIP
Adopting SSIP standards can be challenging, especially for smaller businesses still learning how to embed a comprehensive health and safety culture into their operations. This often requires investment in training, policy development, and external consultancy.
However, the long-term benefits, including enhanced safety, compliance, and marketability, outweigh these initial challenges. A strategic approach focusing on sustainable health and safety practices is crucial for the effective implementation of SSIP standards.
Depending on the member scheme you work with, you may also unlock additional benefits. For example, CHAS members also get access to a host of exclusive benefits, including trade discounts, free services and more.
The Future of SSIP In The UK
SSIP is poised to become even more deeply embedded in the UK’s procurement landscape as the emphasis on the importance of health and safety among contractors and subcontractors intensifies. Future developments are likely to see deeper integration of SSIP standards into procurement policies, further emphasising the importance of safety compliance across various sectors and making SSIP an indispensable element of procurement processes.
Veriforce CHAS is proud to be one of the leading member schemes supporting SSIP. Get in touch with a CHAS advisor to learn more about SSIP, or become a Veriforce CHAS Contractor today to get started.
