Step 2: Share Your Values in a Health & Safety Policy Statement
Make Safety Everyone's Top Business Priority
What is a Health & Safety Policy?
A Health & Safety policy is a written statement of the employer's commitment to protect the Health & Safety of employees at work. It sets the tone for Health & Safety activities and lets everyone know that Health & Safety is a priority in your workplace.
What Every Health & Safety Policy Should Include
A good Health & Safety policy should be simple and easy to understand. It does not need to be longer than a few paragraphs.
- A statement of the employer's vision of, and commitment to, workplace Health & Safety
- The Health & Safety goals and objectives of the organization
- A commitment to comply with the law
- An outline of the responsibilities of the employer, the supervisor and the workers
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How Do I Write a Health & Safety Policy?
Here are some guidelines to help you create a Health & Safety policy for your business:
Basics of a Health & Safety Policy Statement
Using simple, concise sentences, your policy should state:
- That management is committed to creating and maintaining an accident- and illness-free workplace
- That the safety of employees, the public, and the company's operations is vital to the success of the business
- That the company intends to comply, as a minimum, with all Health & Safety laws
- That Health & Safety will take priority over speed and production, and must become a key part of quality customer service
- That each employee will be provided, through training and education, with the means, resources and opportunity to become a full partner in the Health & Safety system
- That each individual in the company, from employer to supervisor to worker, has a distinct responsibility for Health & Safety, a role in maintaining a safe and healthy environment and an accountability for safe work performance and hazard reporting and correction
- That a partnership will involve the Joint Health & Safety Committee/Health & Safety Representative, management and workers to identify and resolve potential issues/problems as quickly as possible
- That through continuous, cooperative and joint efforts, a positive climate will be created and Health & Safety goals will be achieved
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Effective Health & Safety Policy Statements must be:
- Signed by the CEO and/or senior manager on site
- Dated and reviewed annually for accuracy, relevance to the business' ideals and to reflect any changes within the business
- Communicated to each employee and posted in a common location
- Included in business and staff meetings, operational checks, training sessions, annual business goals and objectives
- Kept at the forefront of business practices, new initiatives and customer service
Awareness - Share Your Views
Effective Health & Safety policies are kept at the forefront of business practices, new initiatives and customer service. All employees should be provided with a copy of the policy. It should also be posted in a location that is accessible to all employees and should be reviewed every year to ensure it still applies to your workplace.
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Basic Health and Safety Terms
This glossary provides a quick reference to common health and safety terms used throughout the Six Step Guide to Health and Safety.
Did you know?
That when you push a cart - you should keep to the right.
