CHAS Documents Checklist: What You Need to Upload

CHAS (the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme) reviews evidence across your health & safety management — and the core documents are predictable. For a broader overview of what CHAS accreditation involves, see our pillar guide. According to CHAS's published assessment criteria (checked June 2026), contractors must provide evidence across 8 core categories: your health & safety policy, insurance certificates, risk assessments, method statements (RAMS), training records, maintenance records, construction phase plans and COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) records. Gather these before you start and you'll typically pass first time — missing documents adds weeks to your approval and accounts for the majority of first-time rejections.

The CHAS evidence checklist

These are the document categories the CHAS health & safety assessment reviews. Have each ready as a current PDF before you begin. (CHAS H&S assessment criteria, checked 05/06/2026)

1. 1
   Health & safety policy — your written H&S policy document.
2. 2
   Insurance — Employers' Liability and Public Liability, as a schedule or broker's letter showing policy number, limit, excess and expiry date. Missing or expired insurance is the most common rejection reason in first-time assessments and typically adds 2–3 weeks to your approval while you chase a current certificate from your broker. The same insurance evidence applies across the Common Assessment Standard question set.
3. 3
   Risk assessments — covering your typical activities.
4. 4
   Method statements (RAMS) — for higher-risk tasks.
5. 5
   Training records — competence cards and certificates.
6. 6
   Maintenance records — for plant and equipment you use.
7. 7
   Construction phase plans — where your work requires them.
8. 8
   COSHH — procedures and records for hazardous substances.

Reuse it across schemes

Because CHAS is SSIP-approved, SSIP mutual recognition means the same core evidence largely satisfies other SSIP schemes too — see the full contractor compliance documents checklist for the master pack. Keep this pack current and you'll sail through your accreditation renewal deadlines too. If you're still choosing between schemes, compare costs and features in CHAS vs SafeContractor vs Constructionline, or see detailed pricing in CHAS cost.

Frequently asked questions

What documents do I need for CHAS?

CHAS requires a health & safety policy, Employers' and Public Liability insurance certificates, risk assessments, method statements (RAMS), training records, maintenance records, construction phase plans where relevant, and COSHH procedures and records. Some trades need additional role-specific evidence. Having all 8 categories current before you start typically results in first-time approval.

Does CHAS need my insurance certificate?

Yes — CHAS asks for your insurance as a schedule or broker's letter showing the policy number, the limit of cover, the excess and the expiry date, for both Employers' Liability and Public Liability.

Will the same documents work for SafeContractor or Constructionline?

Largely yes. All three assess the same SSIP core health & safety criteria, so the same evidence pack applies — though each scheme has its own portal to upload to. Keep one current master folder and reuse it.