Health and Safety Policy Contents Part 1
In the United Kingdom if you employ 5 or more people then you are required to have a health and safety policy under the Health & Safety at work act 1974. The content should include all of your company activities, a general example list is as follows:-
- Health & Safety Policy Statement (Example Below)
Our policy is to provide and maintain safe and healthy environment, working conditions, equipment, and safe systems of works in our workplace. It is also our policy to provide adequate control of the health and safety risks arising from our work activities. We will ensure safe handling and use of substances. We will also provide such information, training, and supervision, as is needed for this purpose. We also acknowledge responsibility for the health and safety of other persons who may be affected by our work and activities.
It is also our policy is to consult with our employees on matters affecting their health and safety, and it is our policy to prevent accidents and cases of work-related ill health.
The allocation for safety matters and the particular arrangements that we will make to implement the policy are set out below. The policy will be kept up to date, particularly as the business changes in nature and size. To ensure this, our policy will be reviewed annually.
- Management Responsibilities
The Managing Director has overall responsibility for health and safety; senior managers should be responsible for day to day Health and Safety, procurement of plant and machinery, office etc.
- Employee Responsibilities
Have the responsibility to co-operate with the Company to achieve a safe and healthy workplace and to take reasonable care of themselves and others and not to interfere with anything provided to safeguard their health and safety. An employee has a responsibility to let Add person responsible know if there is a matter relating to health and safety that should be brought to their attention for action.
- Health & Safety Advisor/Work place advisor
Responsible for health and safety matters and will be available to advise on particular health and safety matters.
- Health & Safety Representative
The Company will designate one person on each Site to be the Site Health and Safety Representative.
- Implementation of Policy
The Managing Director or Safety Advisor will ensure that all employees have access to the Health and Safety Policy that is located in all site offices and in the company office.
Each employee will be given a copy of the general policy on commencement of his or her employment.
- Consultation with employees
This will vary from company to company but in general this can be via an appointed safety advisor, and an Employee Representative on Health and Safety matters.
- Risk Assessments
Risk assessments will be undertaken for all members of staff, work activities and systems annually. The results of the risk assessments will be recorded in writing, safety procedures produced and implemented to ensure adequate levels of health safety and welfare.
Risk assessments are to be reviewed regularly to ensure that they are still appropriate to the tasks covered. They will also be reviewed when a new member of staff joins, new equipment is installed, when a new system of work set up or when the business or Company changes premises.
A responsible person shall undertake all company risk assessments as required by the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 UK or Section 20 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 (Ireland).
Part 2 Will continue with the remaining example list of items that should be included in a health and safety policy. Bookmark this site and check back in a few days for part 2.
A full Health and Safety Policy Document that is fully editable is available HERE with instant download.