Health and safety policy

Overview

Every employer with 5 or more employees must create a written health and safety policy that sets out how the business plans, organises, controls, monitors and reviews the preventive and protective measures in used to manage health and safety.

However, even if you have fewer employees, it is still best practice to have this policy in writing so that everyone at work understands how you will comply with your health and safety duties and what is expected of them. It also provides evidence, should you be required to prove it, that you have taken the necessary actions to remain compliant.

Creating a health and safety policy

In this section, you'll learn what a health and safety policy is and what to include in it.

Consulting employees

This section focuses on your legal responsibility to consult your employees on health and safety matters. It covers:

• what you should consult them about and whether you should consult them directly or through elected representatives; and
• how you should deal with elected representatives.

Competent people

This section explains the role of the competent person (often referred to as the Health and Safety Officer) and how they can help you meet your legal duties under health and safety legislation.

Displaying information

This section covers your legal requirement to:

• provide information to staff by displaying a health and safety poster; and
• make them aware of your Employers' Liability Insurance by displaying copies of your Certificate of Insurance in the workplace or giving them an electronic copy.