SSIP Explained: What It Is, Deem to Satisfy and How It Fits with CHAS and Constructionline

Safety Schemes in Procurement (SSIP) is an umbrella organisation that aims to reduce the cost and duplication of health and safety prequalification. SSIP does not directly assess contractors or issue an assessment of its own. Instead, its registered assessment schemes use the same core health and safety criteria, so qualifying approval through one registered member can be recognised by another.

SSIP assessments are available through schemes including CHAS, SafeContractor, SMAS Worksafe and Achilles BuildingConfidence. Constructionline memberships can include SSIP health and safety approval through Acclaim, which is associated with Once For All. Constructionline itself is listed as a Supporter Member of SSIP, while the Acclaim assessment is recognised through a Registered Member. Always check the actual assessing scheme and the category shown on your certificate.

See the current list of members on the SSIP website.

If your business already holds a current, valid SSIP approval from a Registered Member, another Registered Member should generally recognise that assessment against the shared health and safety core criteria. This is called Deem to Satisfy. It can save repeating the same assessment, although it does not remove any additional checks required by the receiving scheme.

Some schemes request additional details, such as insurance information, risk profile questions or trade-specific requirements. Certain schemes may still require a site visit. Your approval must be correctly recorded on the SSIP portal and match the relevant assessment category. If recognition is difficult, contact both schemes first and ask them to explain what is outstanding.

Recognition between Registered Members is generally reciprocal. The rules for ISO 45001 Certification Body Members can work differently, so confirm the route rather than assuming every certificate is interchangeable. Read SSIP's Deem to Satisfy guidance.

SSIP focuses on core health and safety capability. The Common Assessment Standard considers a much wider range of supplier requirements, including financial standing, environmental management, quality, equality, information security and building safety. If a client asks for the Common Assessment Standard, an SSIP approval alone will not meet that wider request.

Explore our Constructionline levels guide, CHAS Evidence Guide and Common Assessment Standard Version 6 guide.

Achilles UVDB is a prequalification system used by buyers in the utilities sector. It has its own supplier questionnaire and Verify audits. Holding an SSIP approval does not automatically complete the UVDB requirements. Read What Evidence Is Needed for Achilles UVDB and Verify? for an introduction to that process.

Start with the exact wording in your client's instructions or tender. If they name a specific scheme, check whether your existing approval can be recognised through Deem to Satisfy. If they only ask for SSIP, a current approval through an appropriate Registered Member may be sufficient, so consider which scheme your other clients commonly accept. If you already hold SSIP approval, ask about Deem to Satisfy before paying for a duplicate assessment.

Sources: Safety Schemes in Procurement (SSIP), including its Deem to Satisfy rules and members directory. Checked 23 October 2026.