The International Register of Certified Auditors (IRCA) has launched a new scheme to ensure the competency of Safety Schemes in Procurement (SSIP) assessors.
IRCA has been contracted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and SSIP to develop the scheme to ensure the competency of assessors to deliver the Stage One assessments required under the Construction (Design and Management) regulation 2007. The IRCA certified assessor training and assessor certification is being actively encouraged by HSE and SSIP members, with successful completion of the IRCA approved SSIP Assessor Training Course being mandatory for all assessors working under the SSIP scheme.
The Stage One assessment carried out by assessors, applies to a company’s health and safety arrangements and determines if they are sufficient to enable the organization to carry out construction work safely and without risk to health: in addition a further Stage Two is always required. This competency assessment extends to organizations as well as principal contractors, contractors, designers and CDM co-ordinators.
Simon Feary, IRCA Director, said:
“We are delighted that IRCA’s scheme will be used to set the standard for health and safety assessors working in construction. This scheme will provide the benchmark for the assessors responsible for ensuring that an organization’s health and safety arrangements are to standard. It should also provide assurance for those companies commissioning sub-contracting services and provide greater consistency in ensuring health and safety standards across the industry.”
Philip White, Chief Inspector of Construction for HSE, said:
"I am very pleased to see the launch of this IRCA certification scheme for SSIP assessors. This will help the industry to have confidence that assessors who are carrying out pre-qualification health and safety assessments for SSIP members, have the necessary training and experience to do the job in a practical and proportionate manner"
Simon Mantle, SSIP Chair, said:
"SSIP is delighted with the scheme developed by IRCA. It will provide further confidence to Buyers and Suppliers that assessments done by SSIP Members are consistent and carried out by competent assessors"
The SSIP forum is the group of more than 17 assessment bodies that carry out Stage One assessments and consists of about 300 assessors. After ensuring that the Stage one certificate for health and safety practice is held through the use of these assessors, the second stage for organizations commissioning construction services is to assess the supplier’s ability to deliver the work. The scheme applies to the UK only.
To find out more and apply, visit the IRCA website.