MASE certification (contractor safety, France)
Voluntary in law, but required in practice by many industrial clients (chemicals, petrochemicals, energy) to work on their sites.
Issued by: The MASE association network, through regional committees of client companies and contractors
Contractors working on industrial sites: maintenance, works, industrial cleaning, scaffolding, piping, electrical…
What this scheme covers
- C.1A safety-health-environment management system tailored to contractors, described in the common MASE manual.
- C.2An audit by an approved auditor, then a decision by the joint regional steering committee.
- C.3Certification granted for a period set by the audit result (one or three years).
The link with Qualiopi
Outside vocational training, yet a heavy consumer of safety training (inductions, authorisations, trade skills) — delivered by providers that fall under Qualiopi when funded.
The process, summarised
- 1.Join the regional MASE association and work through the manual.
- 2.Deploy the system (management commitment, competencies, job preparation, lessons learned) over at least one full cycle.
- 3.Pass the audit and present the file to the steering committee, then maintain the system until renewal.
FAQ — MASE
+MASE or ISO 45001: which to choose?
If your customers are French industrial sites, MASE is often explicitly required; for international recognition or corporate groups, ISO 45001. The two overlap and some companies hold both.
+How long does MASE certification last?
One or three years depending on the committee's decision, based on the audit result: a mature system earns three years.
+Is MASE only for the chemical industry?
No: born in chemicals and petrochemicals, it has spread to energy, steel and industrial sites at large that bring in outside contractors.
- MASE From the Client Side: Why Industrial Sites Require It of Their Contractors8 min
- MASE frequency rate and severity rate: definition, calculation and best practices7 min
- Renewing your MASE certification: deadlines, audit and pitfalls7 min
- The 2024 MASE manual: the 5 pillars of the SHE management system8 min
- How to obtain MASE certification in 2026: steps and timelines8 min
- How much does MASE certification cost? Budget item by item7 min
- Is MASE certification mandatory? Who needs it, and why7 min
- ISO 9001Voluntary
- ISO 14001Voluntary
- ISO 45001Voluntary
- ISO 50001Voluntary
- Cofrac accreditationMandatory