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By the Workplace Safety Group teamQuick answer: Get the accreditation your client names. If they ask for "SSIP" without naming a scheme, any SSIP Registered Member scheme will do, such as PQS, CHAS Standard, SMAS Worksafe, SafeContractor or Constructionline Bronze. If they ask for "PAS 91" or "CAS", you need a higher level: CHAS Advanced or Elite, SMAS Worksafe Plus or Pro, or Constructionline Silver or Gold.
Get it right first time
Picking the wrong scheme costs you a year's membership and, worse, the job. Two minutes with this page and one question to your client will save you both.
Ask your client these 3 questions
- Which scheme or schemes do you accept? (e.g. "any SSIP", "CHAS", "SMAS", "Constructionline")
- Which level do you need? (SSIP, PAS 91, or the Common Assessment Standard)
- When do you need it by?
Match your situation
| Your situation | Usually needed | Start here |
|---|---|---|
| A main contractor asks for "SSIP" | Any SSIP scheme | What is SSIP? |
| A housebuilder asks for SMAS | SMAS Worksafe (or the level they name) | SMAS application help |
| A main contractor or housing client asks for CHAS | CHAS Standard, or the level they name | CHAS application help |
| A facilities management, retail or property client | Often SafeContractor | SafeContractor application help |
| A main contractor who uses Constructionline | Constructionline Bronze or Silver | Constructionline application help |
| A public sector or large tender asks for CAS | A CAS-level option (CHAS Elite, SMAS Worksafe Pro, Constructionline Gold) | PAS 91 and CAS explained |
| You're a sole trader asked for "SSIP" | A proportionate SSIP scheme | Accreditation for sole traders |
| Several clients ask for different schemes | One SSIP scheme plus deem to satisfy, or a plan that supports several | SafeGuard Pro and Pro Max |
The schemes in a sentence
- PQS: a UKAS-accredited SSIP Registered Member. Included at SSIP level in SafeGuard Pro and Pro Max, with the membership fee paid.
- CHAS: three levels: Standard (SSIP), Advanced (adds PAS 91-level questions) and Elite (Common Assessment Standard).
- SMAS Worksafe: three levels: Worksafe (SSIP), Worksafe Plus (adds the standard pre-qualification questions) and Worksafe Pro (Common Assessment Standard).
- Constructionline: Bronze (includes Once For All Health & Safety), Silver (adds company standing and pre-qualification questions) and Gold (Common Assessment Standard).
- SafeContractor: a Health & Safety certificate, with an optional Sustainability add-on covering wider business standards.
WSG prices at a glance (+VAT, 1–4 employees)
| Scheme | Entry level | Middle level | Top level |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHAS | Standard £395 | Advanced £595 | Elite £795 |
| SMAS | Worksafe £395 | Worksafe Plus £595 | Worksafe Pro £795 |
| Constructionline | Bronze £395 | Silver £595 | Gold: through Pro Max |
| SafeContractor | Health & Safety £395 | H&S + Sustainability £595 | n/a |
| PQS (SSIP) | Included in SafeGuard Pro (£1,895 a year) and Pro Max (£2,395 a year), membership fee paid | ||
Prices rise with headcount. See each scheme page for your instant quote. Each scheme's membership fee is paid directly to the scheme.
Extra benefits when you apply through us:
- CHAS: a free fast-track for new members. CHAS assesses your application in 2 working days instead of the usual 10.
- SMAS: 30% off your first-year SMAS membership fee if you're new to SMAS.
- SafeContractor: a £50 Amazon voucher and a fast-track application.
What CHAS itself charges (2026/27, +VAT): for an owner operator, Standard is £429 a year, Advanced £659 and Elite £949, plus a one-off joining fee of £59. For a 5–9 person firm, it's £879, £1,499 and £1,799 a year, plus a £129 joining fee. CHAS 2026/27 prices, effective 27 August 2026; may vary by application type. See every CHAS price by company size.
More than one client, more than one scheme?
- SafeGuard Pro: PQS accreditation at SSIP level with the membership fee paid, plus support with any other SSIP scheme (that scheme's fee is paid separately).
- SafeGuard Pro Max: PQS accreditation at SSIP level with the membership fee paid, plus support with any PAS 91 or CAS scheme, such as CHAS Elite, SMAS Worksafe Plus or Constructionline Silver or Gold (that scheme's fee is paid separately).
Both include competent health and safety advice and your paperwork produced for you.
FAQs
Only if your clients ask for both. Many accept any SSIP scheme, and deem to satisfy lets you use one SSIP approval to help you join another.
The better one is the one your client accepts. Many clients accept either. Some housebuilders now ask for SMAS specifically.
Both are SSIP schemes. SafeContractor is common with facilities management and retail clients, and CHAS with main contractors and housing clients. Check which your client uses.
Ask whether they mean SSIP, PAS 91 or CAS. If they're unsure, SSIP is the usual starting point for health and safety pre-qualification.
Yes. Call us or request a call back. You don't need to know the scheme or level before you get in touch.
03333 208568
info@workplacesafetygroup.co.uk
