The Common Assessment Standard is an accreditation programme designed to standardise the construction?pre-qualification process in order to improve efficiency and reduce cost. To achieve certification, companies must evidence their compliance in several key areas of risk management annually.
The agreement means that HAE members with Common Assessment Standard certification will be deemed exempt from completing aligned sections of HAE’s own assessment, the SafeHire Certification Scheme, minimising costs and improving efficiency by reducing duplication for HAE members, while boosting awareness and recognition of both schemes.
HAE joins a growing list of organisations now using the Common Assessment Standard. The recognition is the result of detailed discussions between HAE and Build UK to work through the extensive checklist that is integral to the SafeHire Certification Scheme and the wide-ranging questions required by the Common Assessment Standard.
HAE will continue to perform the technical side of the audit, as this is the assessment role the organisation specialises in, which, the organisation said, will help strengthen the construction supply chain by ensuring that only sufficient accredited and safety-orientated hire businesses are available for projects.
Jo Fautley, deputy chief executive of Build UK, said: “The Common Assessment Standard continues to go from strength to strength and we are delighted that HAE has become the latest Build UK trade association to accept it as part of its membership audit scheme. With a growing list of major contractors and clients now specifying the Common Assessment Standard for their pre-qualification requirements, HAE members will benefit from a reduction in duplication and cost, which is more important than ever in the current market.”
The SafeHire Certification Scheme was launched in 2000 and has been developed with the guidance of safety and quality agencies, including the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). In 2010, it was endorsed by the British Standards Institute (BSi) as a Private Standard. HAE said members achieving SafeHire Certification will prove competence in safety, health, environment and quality, meet client demands for high standards of service and demonstrate a well-trained workforce to support customers.
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