Free UK contractor tool

Free CHAS Readiness Checker

Planning to apply for CHAS? Answer a few questions about your business, documents and health & safety arrangements to see how prepared you are — and exactly what to address before applying.

Free • No account required • Results in minutes

Check your readiness for a CHAS Standard assessment

This tool is built around CHAS Standard — the SSIP health & safety assessment plus the insurance module. Advanced and Elite add further assessment areas on top. It takes a few minutes, asks only what's relevant to your business, and gives you a readiness score, a breakdown and a prioritised action plan.

This is an independent Complys readiness estimate — not an official CHAS assessment, certification or guarantee of approval, and not CHAS's scoring method. CHAS assesses your business directly and proportionately to its size and scope.

Free • No account required • Results in minutes • CHAS Standard Readiness Model v1.0 — reviewed September 2026

What is a CHAS readiness check?

Getting ready for CHAS isn't simply about having documents saved somewhere — you need to demonstrate that appropriate health & safety arrangements are in place and provide evidence to support them. This free readiness check takes you through the main areas a CHAS Standard assessment looks at, gives you a readiness score, identifies potential gaps and suggests your next actions. It's an indicative Complys tool, not an official CHAS assessment.

What do you need for CHAS?

CHAS assessors review evidence including health & safety policies, training records, insurance, maintenance records, construction phase plans, COSHH procedures and risk assessments and method statements — with the assessment made proportionate to the size and scope of your business. A sole trader isn't judged against the same structures as a 200-person contractor.

What documents should I prepare for CHAS?

As a starting point: a current health & safety policy; work-specific risk assessments and method statements; COSHH assessments where you use hazardous substances; training and competence records; insurance certificates; equipment maintenance and inspection records; and evidence that your arrangements are actually followed. What applies depends on your work — our how to get CHAS approved guide goes through it in detail.

What is CHAS Standard?

CHAS Standard is the entry level: it includes CHAS's health & safety assessment and an insurance module, and demonstrates SSIP compliance. CHAS also offers Advanced and Elite levels, which add further assessment areas (Elite incorporates the Common Assessment Standard). This checker focuses on Standard — the level most contractors start with.

What happens if my business isn't ready?

You don't need to fix everything before you start using it — you need a plan. The checker gives you a prioritised action list: the fundamentals to sort first, the areas to review, and what's already in good shape. From there you can build the missing pieces with the RAMS builder, training matrix, COSHH assessments and policy management.

How Complys helps you prepare for CHAS

CHAS is largely about being able to evidence a sound health & safety system. Complys keeps your policy, RAMS, training, insurance, maintenance and evidence in one place with expiry reminders, so a CHAS submission — and its annual renewal — becomes a case of exporting what you already have. There's a free 90-day trial.

CHAS readiness — FAQs

Is the Complys CHAS Readiness Checker free?

Yes — it's completely free, needs no account, and nothing you enter is stored. It runs entirely in your browser.

Is this an official CHAS assessment?

No. It's an independent Complys preparation tool that estimates how ready you are. It isn't affiliated with CHAS, isn't CHAS's scoring method, and can't grant or guarantee certification — CHAS carries out the actual assessment.

Does a high score mean I'll pass CHAS?

No. A high readiness score is an encouraging sign based on the answers you gave, but it isn't a guarantee. CHAS assesses your business directly and proportionately to its size and scope, and makes its own decision.

What documents do I need for CHAS?

Typically your health & safety policy, risk assessments and method statements, training and competence records, insurance certificates, maintenance/inspection records and evidence that your arrangements are followed. The exact requirements depend on your business — see our guide on how to get CHAS approved for detail.

What is the difference between CHAS and SSIP?

SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement) is an umbrella body, not a scheme you apply to directly. CHAS is one of its member assessment schemes: passing CHAS Standard demonstrates SSIP compliance, which other SSIP members can then recognise.

How long does CHAS certification last?

SSIP certification through CHAS is generally valid for 12 months and needs annual renewal, so staying ready year-round matters — which is where keeping your evidence current in one place helps.

What happens if the checker identifies missing evidence?

You get a prioritised action plan: the fundamental gaps to fix first, the areas to review, and what's already looking good — each linked to the relevant Complys guide, free tool or feature so you can close the gap.

Can Complys help me stay ready after becoming CHAS certified?

Yes. Complys keeps your policy, RAMS, training, insurance and evidence together with expiry reminders, so annual renewal and client audits are a case of exporting what you already have rather than rebuilding it.

Related: how to get CHAS approved, CHAS vs SafeContractor vs SMAS, contractor compliance checker, and the full tools hub.