The Safety Schemes in Procurement (SSIP) Forum plays a crucial role in streamlining health and safety pre-qualification across the UK. Its collaborative approach brings together diverse members who actively promote a high level of health and safety capability standards, using the SSIP Core Criteria to complete assessments.
This collaboration is facilitated through three distinct membership categories: Registered Members, Certification Body Members, and Supporter Members. Understanding the differences between these categories is key to navigating the SSIP landscape.
Registered Members: The Foundation of Mutual Recognition
Registered Membership is open to any third-party health and safety assessment scheme, including those operated by major contractors or trade associations. These members form the core of the SSIP’s mutual recognition framework. Crucially, assessments completed through Registered Member schemes benefit from full mutual recognition by all other SSIP Registered Member schemes and Supporter Members. This “Deem to Satisfy” agreement significantly reduces duplication of effort for suppliers, as a single assessment is recognised across the Forum. This mutual recognition is dependent on all necessary details being accurately displayed on the SSIP Portal, ensuring transparency and easy verification for clients.
Certification Body Members: Bridging ISO 45001 and SSIP
Certification Body Membership is specifically designed for UKAS accredited certification bodies for ISO 45001, with a minimum accreditation to EA28. These members offer a combined certification route, allowing businesses to achieve both ISO 45001 and SSIP certification simultaneously. It’s vital to note that a standard ISO 45001 certificate does not automatically meet SSIP requirements. Businesses seeking SSIP certification alongside their ISO 45001 must explicitly request this from their chosen Certification Body Member, ensuring the additional SSIP scheme requirements are addressed. The “Deem to Satisfy” agreement for Certification Body Members provides one-way mutual recognition with all Registered Members. This means that assessments completed through Certification Body Members are recognised by Registered Members, but not the other way around. Again, accurate information on the SSIP Portal is essential for this recognition to be valid.
Supporter Members: Driving Best Practice and Influencing Standards
Supporter Members are organisations, often large contractors or trade associations, who champion SSIP certification within their own supply chains. They stipulate that their supply chain hold valid SSIP certification, demonstrating a strong commitment to health and safety best practice. Beyond simply requiring certification, Supporter Members actively engage with the SSIP Forum. They have the opportunity to participate in Full Forum meetings, providing valuable insights and helping to guide SSIP on industry-specific best practices. For trade associations and main contractors * with supply chains in excess of 250 suppliers, Supporter Membership offers a powerful platform to represent their members’ interests in the ongoing development of pre-qualification standards within SSIP. Furthermore, Supporter Members enjoy unrestricted access to the SSIP Portal, giving them enhanced visibility into supplier assessment information. This access allows them to make more informed decisions and effectively manage health and safety risks within their supply chains. *Currently Supporter Membership is FREE!*
In summary, these three membership types work together to achieve SSIP’s overarching goal of simplifying and standardising health and safety pre-qualification. Registered Members form the backbone of mutual recognition, Certification Body Members offer a combined certification pathway, and Supporter Members drive adoption and shape future standards. Understanding the distinctions between these categories is essential for both suppliers seeking certification and clients looking to engage competent and safety-conscious suppliers.
To learn more about SSIP members go to www.ssip.org.uk
