Types of SAFed Membership

SAFed membership is in two tiers: Full and Associate. In summary the main difference is UKAS Accreditation, subscription and, in practice, full members have representation on the SAFed Board and Technical Steering Committee in accordance with the Articles of Association. These committees decide the strategy and management of the association.

All members have the opportunity to contribute to and influence technical safety inspection matters. Candidates, who fulfil the requirements of full membership must join as full members and associate members, who subsequently gain UKAS accreditation must, at the next opportunity, become full members.

Full members are entitled to trade as a 'SAFed Member' and use the SAFed logo; associate members may trade as 'An Associate Member of SAFed' and use the SAFed logo annotated with 'Associate Member' under the log. No other wording or inference is permitted. Trading under SAFed only applies to current membership. UKAS accreditation is widely recognised by Engineering Brokers, Industry consultants, DTI and HSE as the standard for competence within the Inspection Industry. The criteria for class of member each is as follows:

Full Members
  • Be an identifiable business unit undertaking, as all or part of its business activities, independent third party inspection and/or testing and/or certification of engineering and manufacturing plant, machinery and equipment in the UK and/or the Republic of Ireland

  • Operate competently as demonstrated by having UKAS1 accreditation to the relevant national or international inspection accreditation Standard for sufficient scopes of inspection activities such that the majority of employed inspection personnel come within the terms of the accreditation

  • Agree to abide by the Safety Assessment Federation (SAFed) Code of Conduct and to comply fully with all SAFed Standards and guidance (where appropriate).

  • Participate in SAFed core initiatives approved by the SAFed Board as far as is appropriate for member's commercial activity (eg Health & Safety passport Scheme2).

  • Demonstrate firm financial viability

  • Assume responsibility for ensuring the above throughout the period of membership

Associate Members
  • Be an identifiable business unit undertaking, as all or part of its business activities, independent third party inspection and/or contributing to or undertaking testing and/or certification of engineering and manufacturing plant, machinery and equipment in the UK and/or the Republic of Ireland3.

  • Operate competently3

  • Agree to abide by the Safety Assessment Federation (SAFed) Code of Conduct and to comply fully with all SAFed Standards and guidance (where appropriate).

  • Participate in SAFed core initiatives approved by the SAFed Board as far as is appropriate for member's commercial activity

  • Demonstrate firm financial viability3

  • Assume responsibility for ensuring the above throughout the period of membership3

1 The Irish National Accreditation Board (NAB) in the case of members registered in the Republic of Ireland

2 The SAFed Health & Safety Passport Scheme or equivalent eg FÂS or HSE supported scheme

3 This will be evaluated by an initial on site assessment by SAFed and thereafter annually/as appropriate..