Health and safety
When do I need to have a Health and Safety Policy?
It is always good practice to have a Health and Safety policy. Although, when you employ 5 or more people you must have a written policy in place. This should be made available to all employees. The common format that is used is as follows:- The statement of general policy on health and safety at work. This will detail your policy and best practice for achieving your policy goals.
- Who you have made the responsible person for managing your policy and their responsibilities.
- The final section should clearly and in detail explain the practical delivery and management of your health and safety policy. I.e. how you will deliver your statements and goals.
This will often include risk assessments and accident books for reporting (please note there are specific requirements to ensure Data protection is maintained). Often, when reviewing health and safety in the workplace, terms such as risk and hazard are used. These are defined by the following: Risk = the chance of happening, Hazard = something that could cause harm.
Highlighted areas for attention raised in your risk assessment could suggest the requirement for some of the following:
- Signage highlighting potential danger, fire exists, extinguishers, safety clothing or equipment requirements such as hi-visability or glasses etc.
- Staff training might be identified, as stress falls under health and safety. Are your staff members adequately trained to do the job you are requesting them to carry out?
- Improved lighting for areas which have poor light or are catering for use of machinery that requires good visibility.
The focus needs to be based on the potential risks and what they are, do they present a hazard? Your solutions should then be guided on this basis.