Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

2
Policy
Figure 2.1
Well presented policy documents.

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Introduction to Health and Safety at Work
24
for the effective planning, organization, control, monitor-
ing and review of the preventative and protective meas-
ures.’ It further requires that these arrangements must be 
recorded when there are fi ve or more employees.
When an inspector from the HSE or Local Authority 
visits an establishment, it is very likely that they will wish 
to see the health and safety policy as an initial indication 
of the management attitude to health and safety. There 
have been instances of prosecutions being made due to 
the absence of a written health and safety policy. (Such 
cases are, however, usually brought before the courts 
because of additional concerns.)
2.3 
Key elements of a health and 
safety policy
2.3.1 Policy statement of intent
The health and safety policy statement of intent is often 
referred to as the health and safety policy statement or 
simply (and incorrectly) as the health and safety policy. It 
should contain the aims (which are not measurable) and 
objectives (which are measurable) of the organization or 
company. Aims will probably remain unchanged during 
policy revisions whereas objectives will be reviewed and 
modifi ed or changed each year. The statement should be 
written in clear and simple language so that it is easily 
understandable. It should also be fairly brief and broken 
down into a series of smaller statements or bullet points.
The statement should be signed and dated by the 
most senior person in the organization. This will demonstrate 
management commitment to health and safety and give 
authority to the policy. It will indicate where ultimate 
responsibility lies and the frequency with which the policy 
statement is reviewed.
The policy statement should be written by the organ-
ization and not by external consultants since it needs to 
address the specifi c health and safety issues and hazards 
within the organization. In large organizations, it may be 
necessary to have health and safety policies for each 
department and/or site with an overarching general policy 
incorporating the individual policies. Such an approach 
is often used by local authorities and multinational 
companies.
The following points should be included or con-
sidered when a health and safety policy statement is being 
drafted:
➤
the aims should cover health and safety, welfare and 
relevant environmental issues
➤
the position of the senior person in the organization 
or company who is responsible for health and safety 
(normally the chief executive)
➤
the names of the Health and Safety Adviser and any 
safety representatives
➤
a commitment to the basic requirements of the 
Health and Safety at Work Act (access, egress, risk 
assessments, safe plant and systems of work, use, 
handling, transport and handling of articles and sub-
stances, information, training and supervision)
➤
a commitment to the additional requirements of 
the Management of Health and Safety at Work 
Regulations (risk assessment, emergency proced-
ures, health surveillance and employment of com-
petent persons)
➤
duties towards the wider general public and others 
(contractors, customers, students, etc.)
➤
the principal hazards in the organization
➤
specifi c policies of the organization (e.g. smoking 
policy, violence to staff, etc.)
➤
a commitment to employee consultation possibly 
using a safety committee or plant council
➤
duties of employees (particularly those defi ned in 
the Management of Health and Safety at Work 
Regulations)
➤
specifi c performance targets for the immediate and 
long term future.
Health and safety