Critera for Admission to Practice Register

Introduction

As the leading industry body in the field of Construction Health and Safety Risk Management, the Association for Project Safety (APS) Practice Register Standard references the core activities and outcomes of best practice CDM in addition to those activities indicated in the Approved Code of Practice of the CDM 2007 Regulations.  

APS’ Practice Register Standard is designed to give Practices, involved in matters of Construction Design and Management and in particular those matters specified by the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 the opportunity to prove to the Client base that the Practice is compliant with the Regulations and is observing Best Practice.

APS acknowledges the assistance of its professional advisors, Practices and Clients who participated in the pilot scheme in February and March 2008 which led to the development of the APS Practice Register Standard.  

Objectives

The APS Practice Register is designed to establish if a Practice has best practice procedures and practices in place, and is observing these practices.  

The Standard is intended to provide assurance to a client that the work of the Practice will be compliant with the CDM (2007) regulations and is likely to yield consistently satisfactory outcomes and customer satisfaction for all stakeholders.    

To achieve Registered Practice status a Practice has met the criteria set down in this Standard.

In doing so a Practice is likely to have demonstrated;

• A high order systematic approach to CDM activity.
• A continuous improvement mentality.
• Commitment to the maintenance of the competency of all its practitioners.
• Working methods compliant with all relevant regulations.

In particular the required annual audit will have looked for;

• Observation of Practice Polices and Procedures.
• Appropriate Internal, Project or Contract Records.
• Proof of observation of external Policies, Codes of Conduct and Regulations.

Process

A Practice wishing to be registered must be audited every year. Incomplete observance of criteria will be recorded as non compliances. 

Audit reports will be assessed by APS’ Membership and Registration Committee. The Committee will consider the audit report and award Registration where a Practice has proven compliance. Where it is judged that any identified non compliance(s) are unlikely to impede the delivery of Client satisfaction and compliance to the Regulations an award may also be made subject to commitment to rectify the non compliances before any subsequent audit. Major non conformities will lead to no award or the withdrawal of Registered Practice status.

Proofs given in the Standard are indicative only and should not be considered as an exhaustive list. Alternative proofs may be considered on their merit.  

Confidentiality and Independence     

The Practice is assured of the confidentiality of the audit process. The identity of the Practice will not be available to the Committee save in those circumstances if the Practice were to make written or oral submissions to the Committee where anonymity cannot be guaranteed. 

Standard

To give Clients and Practices assurance of the integrity of the processes, all of APS’ Membership and Registration services are designed to be compliant with ISO 9001:2000.

All criteria and the audit processes concerned will be reviewed at least annually to ensure that the Practice Register Standard remains fit for purpose. 

To download a PDF version of the Practice Register Standard please click on the APS Icon.

APS Practice Register Standard April 2008 (69 kB)

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