Health and safety policy and procedures documentation

Health and Safety Policy and Procedures

How robust is your health and safety management system? When was the last time that you audited your health and safety processes?

If you’re not sure, then you need help.

More and more, we see in the HSE news, successful convictions being brought against employers and business owners for failing to ensure the safety of their workforce, contractors and visitors. Chemicals, manual handling, working at height, work equipment or any other work activity that has the potential to cause harm whilst at work; must have a suitable and sufficient risk assessment. Where there are more than five employees, these must be written down. You must then put measures into place to reduce the risks and set out a clear Safe System of Work (SSW) for people to be able to follow. This could mean the difference between a hefty fine (unlimited) and a safe workplace with few, if any, major accidents.

All sound straight forward? In theory it is. However, getting the system into place at the outset is only the first step in creating a lasting culture of safety in the workplace. Where it can fall down is that the SSW’s are not accessible to the workforce. They are not used for training at all and they are forgotten about in the admin cupboard… and that’s locked to keep the staff out!

The benefits of having up to date health and safety policy and procedures far out-weigh the limitless damage to a business’s image and reputation when something goes badly wrong.

It can be a daunting task to start to put a health and safety manual together from the beginning, but I doubt that many businesses have nothing in place. So what is there can be built upon, so that it not only complies with the Health and Safety at Work Act. 1974, but also is the tool to train and educate directors, senior managers, supervisors and staff alike.

Michelle Hay Training can help. As an experienced and qualified consultant and trainer who specialises in health and safety, I can help your business become compliant. We can work together to put in place systems that work for your specific business needs. 

Here’s the an outline of what we can do for you.

  • Create a company specific health and safety policy
  • Identify your work activities that may cause harm
  • Identify and assess the risks
  • Establish and set out safe systems of work for the high risk activities
  • Train all employees in their relevant SSW’s and company policy
  • Train all employees in health and safety in the workplace
  • Review your health and safety policy and procedures.

Don’t forget, all businesses must have a written Fire Risk Assessment and Emergency Action Plan. If you haven’t done that, call me on 0161 298 1040 to discuss and arrange a meeting, or complete the contact form.