Frequently Asked Questions

SSIP stands for Safety Schemes in Procurement. It is a framework of health and safety pre-qualification schemes recognised by major clients and contractors across the UK. If you want to work on construction projects or supply services to larger organisations, many will require you to hold SSIP accreditation before they will allow you on site or award contracts. For SMEs in Kent and the South East, SSIP accreditation is increasingly essential for winning work in construction, facilities management and public sector contracts.

CHAS (Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme) is one of the accreditation schemes that sits within the SSIP framework. Other SSIP member schemes include Constructionline, SafeContractor and Acclaim. If you hold accreditation with one SSIP member scheme, it should be mutually recognised by other SSIP members — meaning you don't need to apply separately to each one. ISOHS can advise you on which scheme is most recognised by your target clients and guide you through the application process.

With the right documentation in place, the SSIP application process can typically be completed within 2–4 weeks. The timeline depends on how much of your health and safety documentation is already in order. ISOHS can review your existing documentation, identify gaps and help you prepare everything needed for a successful first-time application.

Most SSIP accreditations are valid for 12 months and need to be renewed annually. ISOHS can support you with your initial application and with annual renewals, ensuring your documentation remains up to date and your accreditation is maintained without interruption.

ISO 9001 is the international standard for Quality Management Systems. It provides a framework for businesses to consistently meet customer requirements and improve their processes. Many larger businesses and public sector organisations require their suppliers to hold ISO 9001 certification before awarding contracts. For SMEs looking to grow, win tenders or demonstrate credibility, ISO 9001 can be a significant competitive advantage.

ISO management systems require ongoing maintenance, not just a one-off implementation. You should conduct internal audits at least annually, review your management system objectives regularly, and ensure your documentation reflects any changes to your business. Most ISO certification bodies conduct surveillance audits annually with a full recertification audit every three years. ISOHS offers retainer packages to support your ongoing compliance between certification audits.

These are three separate management system standards covering different areas: ISO 9001 covers Quality Management; ISO 14001 covers Environmental Management; and ISO 45001 covers Occupational Health and Safety Management. Many businesses pursue more than one, as the standards share a common high-level structure (Annex SL) which makes integrated implementation more efficient. ISOHS can support you with any or all of these standards.

The cost of ISO certification depends on the size of your business, the complexity of your operations, and how much work is required to bring your systems up to standard. ISOHS charges fixed fees for our consultancy work, with no hidden costs. We will always give you a clear, honest assessment of what's involved before any commitment. Contact us for a free consultation and we will provide a tailored quote.

A risk assessment identifies the hazards present in your workplace, evaluates the likelihood and severity of harm, identifies who might be harmed, and determines what control measures are needed to reduce the risk to an acceptable level. ISOHS produces site-specific risk assessments — not generic templates — covering physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic and psychosocial hazards relevant to your operations. Every assessment comes with a clear action plan prioritising the most significant risks.

If you employ five or more people, you are legally required under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to have a written health and safety policy. Even for smaller businesses, having a clear policy demonstrates your commitment to safety and is increasingly required by clients, insurance providers and SSIP schemes. ISOHS produces bespoke policies tailored to your business — not copy-paste templates that don't reflect your operations.

As a minimum, your health and safety policy and risk assessments should be reviewed annually and whenever there is a significant change to your business — new activities, new equipment, new premises or changes in personnel. In practice, many businesses leave their documentation outdated for years, which creates legal risk. ISOHS can conduct a documentation review and update your H&S paperwork to ensure it is current and legally compliant.

ISOHS is based in Kent and primarily serves businesses across Kent, Surrey, Essex, Hampshire and the wider South East of England. We can also support businesses remotely across the UK. On-site visits are available throughout our primary coverage area. Contact us to discuss your location and requirements.

Your initial consultation with ISOHS is completely free and carries no obligation. We will assess your compliance needs, explain what's required and provide a clear recommendation — whether that involves our services or not. If you choose to proceed, we offer fixed-fee project work and retainer packages. We always provide a detailed quote before any work begins so there are no surprises.

Yes — this is one of the key advantages of working with ISOHS. Most consultancies specialise in either health and safety or ISO certification, requiring you to manage two separate suppliers. ISOHS covers both, plus SSIP accreditation, which saves you time, reduces cost and ensures a consistent approach across all your compliance activities.