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Writing a Health and Safety Policy from scratch - how to get started
Date Added: February 06, 2012 01:24:23 PM
Author: Jen Hicks
Category: Business & Economy: Law

A Health & Safety Policy shouldn’t be a complicated document but it does need to be a concise summary, stating how your business manages Health & Safety to make sure you adhere to the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 section 2(3). If you’re thinking about writing your own Health & Safety Policy there are a few things you’ll need to consider. Your Policy should clearly set out how you manage Health & Safety, who is responsible and when things must be done. Starting a policy from scratch isn’t easy, particularly if you haven’t written one before and you don’t have access to professional advisors. Some of the things you need to consider are: • A general statement • Responsibilities • Health and safety risks • Consultation with employees • Safe plant and equipment • Safe handling and use of substances • Information, instruction and supervision • Competency for tasks • Accidents, first aid and work-related ill-health • Monitoring - accidents and work-related sickness • Emergency procedures and your company ethos Updating an existing Health & Safety Policy - What needs to be reviewed? Once a Health & Safety policy has been written, it’s important that it’s regularly reviewed and not just left on the shelf. This should be done whenever changes occur within the business and on a regular basis (at least annually). Examples of when a Policy will need reviewing include: • If the work process changes; • At the introduction of new technology or equipment; • When any organisational changes occur; • When changes in legislation occur. Consequences of failing to comply with Health & Safety legislation can be serious • Offences heard in a Magistrates Court can lead to fines of up to £20,000 and/or 1 Year in Prison (Per Offence) • Offences heard in a Crown Court can lead to unlimited fines and/or 2 Years in Prison. In addition to this, the introduction of the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 means that an employer risks prosecution under the Act if it breaches its statutory Health & Safety duties and an employee dies as a result. Individuals can also be prosecuted personally for gross negligence, manslaughter/culpable homicide and for health and safety offences. Prosecutions against individuals are on the increase and will continue to be taken where there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest to do so. For a complete summary of all the things you need to include in a policy or what needs to be reviewed, it is wise to contact health and safety advisors to ensure all points have been considered.
 
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