[Ian_Giles]

I have just one single job that the management company now requires me to be registered with a company called Alcumas as an accredited safe contractor.
I'm a sole trader so with the bumpf they allow you to see (they won't let you see the forms themselves) you can't see the actual questions they are going to ask.
Again, as a sole trader as far as I can tell some of the requirements don't necessarily apply to me, such as needing a full health and safety policy.
Do any of you sole traders out have any experience with either Alcumas or just how difficult it is to get this accreditation?

[cgh window cleaning]

If it’s a new accreditation there is quite a bit of paperwork.
You have to fill out a questionnaire then submit
Rams,insurance Health and safety policy.
Equipment safety checks like ladder logs even for steps etc.Even as a sole trader.
Safe contractor will guide you through and possibly guide you to  available templates.

Then the cost especially if it’s for one job.
It’s currently around £450  -£500  yearly for a sole trader and takes around 6-8 weeks unless you pay more to fast track.
 

[Ian_Giles]

Ouch! Thought as much, there are three of us, all sole traders, me, window cleaner, a groundsman and a cleaner....for myself I think I'm going to let this one go, the cost for their standard package was £399 plus vat,  they are prepared to knock off £100 but for 1 solitary account this just isn't worth the hassle, I've never had my equipment serviced, I don't have a health and safety policy ascit isn't a legal requirement for a sole trader plus I'm also semi retired!

[AuRavelling79]

The Real Ian Giles! Posting after nearly ten years.

How's it going?

[Ian_Giles]

I know! It's been a while since I've posted on here but I have been dropping in on occasion.
I'll be 69 in February,  semi retired now...or trying to be.
I either sack this one particular job or go through the hassle of safe contractor  accreditation  and I think I'll be sacking the job, just not worth the hassle!

[Slacky]

Sack it. It’s only money.

[AuRavelling79]

I know! It's been a while since I've posted on here but I have been dropping in on occasion.
I'll be 69 in February,  semi retired now...or trying to be.
I either sack this one particular job or go through the hassle of safe contractor  accreditation  and I think I'll be sacking the job, just not worth the hassle!

Sack it. You're only old once!

[windowswashed]

Semi retired means you can pick and choose your best work without the hassles that go with cleaning some places, make life easy and ditch it.

[Ian_Giles]

If it’s a new accreditation there is quite a bit of paperwork.
You have to fill out a questionnaire then submit
Rams,insurance Health and safety policy.

Talking of Rams,...with this safe contractor thing, do they require just the one risk assessment and method statement or many to show you apply Rams to all your work?
Which would be a real ball buster for sure as I only the one for the particular job I need the accreditation for!

[Roy Harding]

I had this just over a year and a half ago, company got taken over and wanted all contrators to be safe contracter aproved.

There was to be about 3hrs online video and one to one training then exam pluss £500. So I walked away.
They contacted me a few months ago to go and clean, as they could now aprove me at the site.

[cgh window cleaning]

[/quote]

Talking of Rams,...with this safe contractor thing, do they require just the one risk assessment and method statement or many to show you apply Rams to all your work?
Which would be a real ball buster for sure as I only the one for the particular job I need the accreditation for!
[/quote]


Just one set of Rams updated yearly
Each year they Audit you.
You upload your documents and then it ticks them off once all are provided then submitted for inspection.
They will help you so you can’t fail or not pass.

If it’s for one job and you’re semi retired.I’m not sue the cost and time involved would warrant it for just one job.unless you can increase the job price significantly.

I’ve actually just dropped it this month had it for about 8 years.

[dazmond]

I've never even needed a RAMS for any of my commercial jobs whether it's schools,car showrooms,offices,children's homes,etc

The only thing I've been asked for is public liability insurance ONCE for a school I clean....

Sounds more hassle than it's worth Ian especially if it's gonna cost you upwards of £400 a year!🙄👎

[zesty]

Recently I gave up a yearly contract for a job worth £1400 for 2 days work.

A larger company took over the maintenance and cleaning. They wanted to use me, but on seeing the amount of red tape and h&s nonsense they wanted, I told them it simply isn’t worth my time. It was a ridiculous level of effort and cost just for that one job.  Some of these companies are impossible to deal with if you’re just a sole trader who doesn’t have a whole h&s team behind you.

No thanks.

[Arnold Palmer]

As far as rams go - chat gpt has changed the game for that. You can get all that written in minutes for free and with minimal effort.

Paying for accreditation for a job that isn't going to earn that much is a no brainer though.

Ditch it.

[Spruce]

As far as rams go - chat gpt has changed the game for that. You can get all that written in minutes for free and with minimal effort.

Paying for accreditation for a job that isn't going to earn that much is a no brainer though.

Ditch it.

This world of technology is leaving me behind.

I see the same thing happening to me as with my father. If he came back now, he would be totally lost. He died nearly 31 years ago

[Ian_Giles]

With the health and safety policy and your equipment,  ladders poles and so on, how are you supposed to get signed off on and verified that everything is safe and as it should be?
Does this also apply to how your van is equipped?
I note you also need A    Legionella bacteria policy too!

[Arnold Palmer]

This world of technology is leaving me behind.

Have a crack at it. You'll be surprised how easy it is.

https://chatgpt.com/

"Hey chat gpt, can you please write a risk assessment and method statement for a commercial window cleaning job I have"

You don't even need to spell it properly, or say please. I like to keep our robot overlords happy though, just in case.

Read through what it gives you and ask it for any tweaks you require.

Simples.

[Arnold Palmer]

With the health and safety policy and your equipment,  ladders poles and so on, how are you supposed to get signed off on and verified that everything is safe and as it should be?
Does this also apply to how your van is equipped?
I note you also need A    Legionella bacteria policy too!

I'm pretty sure you're competent enough to inspect and sign off window cleaning equipment. You've probably been doing it all along just not writing it down.

As for legionella...



Ten seconds.

[Slacky]

As far as rams go - chat gpt has changed the game for that. You can get all that written in minutes for free and with minimal effort.

Paying for accreditation for a job that isn't going to earn that much is a no brainer though.

Ditch it.

I just tried that!

https://chatgpt.com/share/674771f8-89d8-8012-a5c0-503e5190a0c0

[Arnold Palmer]

As far as rams go - chat gpt has changed the game for that. You can get all that written in minutes for free and with minimal effort.

Paying for accreditation for a job that isn't going to earn that much is a no brainer though.

Ditch it.

I just tried that!

https://chatgpt.com/share/674771f8-89d8-8012-a5c0-503e5190a0c0

Pretty good innit?