Latest News & Information from the SSIP Forum

For all media and press enquiries, please contact the SSIP Coordinator on 020 8545 3367 or email enquiries@ssip.org.uk.

• 03/03/10

  VolkerFitzpatrick and the National Federation of Demolition Contractors (NFDC) joins the SSIP Forum!

  The SSIP is delighted to welcome VolkerFitzpatrick and NFDC to the SSIP Forum as Affiliate members. They came on board on 10 February 2010.

• 03/03/10

  NQA joins the SSIP Forum!

  The SSIP Forum is delighted to announce that NQA have joined the Forum as a Registered Member. Due to their UKAS accreditation, BSI's independent audit was negated and they came on board on 10 February 2010.

  NQA is a leading certification body and training provider for health and safety management. Our services include UKAS accredited OHSAS 18001 certification, approved training from IOSH and NEBOSH, and legal updates via our free InTouch service (see www.nqa.com/intouch).

  We support over 20,000 organisations in a wide range of industry sectors internationally with acclarocredited certification, technical information, training and events. Please visit www.nqa.com/ohs for more information.

• 01/03/10

  British Standards Institute (BSI) joins the SSIP Forum!

  The SSIP Forum is delighted to announce that BSI have joined the Forum as a Registered Member. Due to their UKAS accreditation, BSI's independent audit was negated and they came on board on 10 December 2009.

• 04/12/09

  The Association for Project Safety (APS) and the Heating and Ventilating Contractors Association (HVCA) join the SSIP Forum!

  The SSIP Forum is delighted to announce that APS and HVCA have now joined the SSIP Forum. APS was successfully independently audited on 30 November 2009 and HVCA on 4 December 2009.

• 06/11/09

  SSIP Forum holds 'Celebrating Success' Launch

  The SSIP Forum held its ‘Celebrating Success' Launch on Wednesday 4 November at the Royal Festival Hall, London. Over 140 delegates representing the construction industry attended it.

  Much positive feedback has been received about the launch and the Forum is confident that it provided an excellent platform from which to move forward in enhancing mutual recognition.

  For the launch programme please click here.

  For the launch Powerpoint presentation slides please click here.

  For launch photographs please click here (to be posted imminently!)

  The Government's Health and Safety Minister Lord McKenzie delivered a keynote speech to over 100 delegates alongside the HSE's chief inspector of construction Philip White.

  Lord McKenzie praised the Forum for its successful first six months and its reality as a genuine public private partnership dedicated at reducing duplication.

  Since May when it was established with Founder Members CHAS, NHBC and Exor (and Constructionline), SSIP has secured additional mutual recognition agreements from Eurosafe UK, Safety Management Advisory Services (SMAS), Altius Vendor Assessment and Facilities Services Group Limited.

  The Forum is also one of several organisations being consulted by the Department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) on the development of its publicly available standard for pre-qualification known as PAS 91.

  BIS' deputy director of the construction sector David Turner also provided an overview of progress on the project at the event.

  Paul Reeve, from the Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA) speaking shortly before the event said: "The proliferation of safety pre-qualification schemes and questions is a huge problem for suppliers, in terms of staff time and cost. It can also distract buyers and suppliers - and particularly small suppliers - from what is most important: practical measures to ensure health and safety on-site.

  "Our industry deserves better than this and the Electrical Contractors' Association fully supports the aims of SSIP. We encourage other assessment schemes that are currently outside SSIP to join, and we ask buyers and major contractors to give it their fullest support."

  John Murphy, chairman of the SSIP Forum, said: "By bringing together some of the largest PQQ schemes in the UK, the advent of our forum has marked a real turning point for the construction industry in its bid to tackle wasteful procurement practices."

  "Our members recognise that the unnecessary duplication of PQQ data was creating a huge burden to suppliers, particularly SMEs who lack the resources to cope with the significant cost and paperwork it creates."

  "Using an SSIP Forum scheme also frees up more time for clients to concentrate on Stage Two assessments so that they can actually tackle health and safety issues head on."

  The Forum thanks the Health and Safety Executive and the Electrical and Heating and Ventilating Contractors' Associations' for sponsoring the event.

• 17.11.09

  British Constructional Steelwork Association Ltd (BCSA) join the
  SSIP Forum!

  The SSIP Forum is delighted to announce that BCSA have joined the Forum. Their independent audit took place on 17 November 2009. BCSA is the national organisation for the steel construction industry: its Member companies undertake the design, fabrication and erection of steelwork for all forms of construction in building and civil engineering which support the development of national specifications, quality, fabrication and erection techniques, overall industry efficiency and good practice.

  The principal objectives of the Association are to promote the use of structural steelwork; to assist specifiers and clients; to ensure that the capabilities and activities of the industry are widely understood and to provide members with professional services in technical, commercial, contractual, quality assurance and health & safety matters.
• 26/10/09

  Altius VA, FSG and Eurosafe join the SSIP Forum!

  The SSIP Forum is delighted to announce that Altius VA, FSG and Eurosafe have now joined the SSIP Forum. Altius VA was successfully independently audited on 21 September 2009, Facilities Services Group (FSG) on 23 September 2009 and Eurosafe UK on 28 September 2009.

• 07/08/09

  Appointment of SSIP Forum′s Auditor

  John Lacey (CFIOSH) was appointed on 6 May 2009 as the SSIP Forum′s independent auditor. Read more

• 07/08/09

  Assessment Guidance notes for new applicants

  Audit Guidance Documentation. Read more

• 07/08/09

  SMAS joins the SSIP Forum!

  The SSIP Forum is delighted to announce that Safety Management Advisory Services (SMAS) Ltd are now registered members. SMAS was successfully independently audited on 14 July 2009 and joins with CHAS, Exor, NHBC and Constructionline to continue the Forum's work on improving and enhancing mutual recognition across the industry.

• 07/08/09

  'Celebrating Success of Mutual Recognition' – Launch Event

  The SSIP Forum will be hosting an event to celebrate the success of mutual recognition across the industry. Read more

• 07/08/09

  Pre Qualification – A step in the right direction

  In April 2007 HSE published the revised Construction (Design and Management) Regulations ( CDM 2007) and a new Approved Code of Practice (The CDM 2007 ACOP). Read more

• 07/08/09

  Is the end in sight for the burden of pre-qualification?

  The annual cost of prequalification for the industry could exceed £1bn. Read more

• 03/06/09

  RoSPA support for industry action on red tape

  A move to cut health and safety bureaucracy in the construction industry has been welcomed by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. Read more