How ON!Track can help you acquire SSIP accreditations

Crime and Fire Defence Systems Ltd specialise in integrated security solutions, whilst Raised Floor Solutions are specialist composite flooring contractors. Yet they both have one thing in common; they’ve achieved the CHAS and Achilles accreditation thanks to Hilti's ON!Track asset management solution.

Nowadays, when tendering for a construction project, it’s likely you'll see a pre-qualification of a CHAS accreditation. But what is this accreditation? And how can ON!Track help you acquire it? As part of our customer takeover series, we chat to both Crime and Fire Defence Systems and Raised Floor Solutions about their ON!Track experience - from implementation to the accreditation process.

SSIPs are safety systems in procurement accreditations - an umbrella body for the assessment schemes such as CHAS and Achilles. The schemes that become members of SSIP all share mutual recognition. In addition, all members align to the government-backed construction pre-qualification document PAS 91, ensuring consistency within supply chain management. This body reduces duplication and streamlines the procurement process.

Achilles is a UK construction industry accreditation and risk management scheme. A standardised pre-qualification questionnaire streamlines the procurement process and manages risk. Having this accreditation helps buyers to identify suitably qualified contractors.

The CHAS (Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme) is a pre-approval scheme, which allows contractors to demonstrate to potential clients that they meet the required health and safety standards.

Both Crime and Fire Defence Systems and Raised Floor Solutions have achieved the Achilles and CHAS Premium Plus. These accreditations involve an audit process so they can demonstrate their commitment to achieving the required standards, as well as pre-qualifying the company for the tendering of projects.

"The Achilles Verify Category B2 audit includes 2 elements; a management system evaluation and a visit to a working site. The management system evaluation is designed to assess the company’s internal policies and procedures with regards to Health & Safety, Environmental Management and Quality Assurance.

"The site visit allows the auditor to ascertain awareness and understanding of the management systems in place and seeks assurance that controls and requirements are being complied with at site level. Both elements are evidence based and each element contains several sub-sections, of which scores are awarded depending on the findings."

Sarah Ormsby, Operations Manager at Raised Floor Solutions, highlighted that the primary reason for the investment in ON!Track was "to control the safety netting element for our business. The system monitors the individual safety net, date of manufacture, testing requirements, repairs and location via a simple scanning system. This enables the company to have full traceability of each net, any damage, repairs or condemnation."

Sarah continues: "By combining all elements of our site based activities into the central ON!Track system, it demonstrated our ability and commitment to provide competent rigging safety netting, compliant products and comprehensive maintenance."

Clare Mallory also highlighted: "The Hilti ON!Track system proved useful in both elements of the audit and helped to increase our overall scores on a number of the sub-sections. Aside from it being user friendly, it allowed us to demonstrate compliance with several of the key requirements of the Achilles Verify Accreditation."

In Clare's words, some of the key requirements of the accreditation which ON!Track assisted with were:

ON!Track gave us a way of recording and storing all training information and competencies for each employee, that is accessible at the touch of a button. Not only were we able to demonstrate how training was recorded, but we were also able to show how the system sends out “alerts” when training certificates are close to expiring - allowing arrangements to be made for refresher/additional training.

ON!Track was used to demonstrate our process with regards to the provision and use of plant, machinery and equipment. It's used for the tagging, recording and allocation of all work equipment too. Maintenance, inspections and calibration dates are inputted to allow renewal “alerts” to be set, and copies of certificates are uploaded for every asset.

Sue Dearden, Contracts Coordinator at Raised Floor Solutions, also adds: “ON!Track is very user-friendly. You can access all the information you need and it’s as simple as scanning a barcode.”

As well as helping your business to acquire accreditations, ON!Track can also be used to solve your construction productivtiy issues. Intrigued? Check out our ON!Track productivity blog by clicking the button below.