Create and operate a health and safety policy

Introduction

A health and safety policy is a plan detailing how you are going to manage health and safety issues.

Your policy should set out your commitment to managing your risks and meeting your legal duties. It should also inform people in your business of their duties towards health and safety at work and the steps that they need to take in order to fulfil those duties.

If you employ five or more people you must have a written health and safety policy statement and a record of your health and safety arrangements. You need a written document so that you and your workforce are clear about who's responsible for what.

If your business employs less than five people you are not legally required to have a written health and safety policy statement. However, you must still ensure that you work safely - a written policy can help you do this.

This guide will help you to prepare and implement your policy and keep it up to date.

Subjects covered in this guide

• Introduction
• Before you write your policy
• What should be in your policy?
• The statement of intent
• The organisation section of your policy
• The arrangements section of your policy
• Monitor the effectiveness of your policy
• Involve your employees
• Here's how I created a health and safety policy

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