Free Safety Information
Free Safety Policy
Having a safety policy is often the first step taken towards organising and documenting your safety management system. What you actually put in your policy is up to you but if you follow the guidelines provided by national standards you won't go far wrong.
You should include commitments to: provide a safe and healthy workplace; comply with relevant occupational safety and health legislation; identify, assess and control hazards; provide information, instruction, training and supervision so employees can work safely; consult with employees on safety issues and to set measurable safety and health objectives as a minimum.
Add some statements about safety also being the responsibility of each employee and that the company seeks to continually improve safety in the workplace. The point is your policy doesn't have to be complicated - in fact the simpler the better.
Here's an example (based on ANSI Z10, BS 8800, OHSAS 18001, AS 4801, ILO requirements) that you can adapt to your own requirements:
Safety and Health Policy
(Insert company name) is committed to providing a safe, healthy and accident free workplace for all its employees, contractors and visitors by complying with relevant occupational safety and health legislation.
(Insert company name) shall:
- identify hazards, assess risks and implement appropriate controls
- provide employees, contractors and visitors with information, instruction, training and supervision appropriate to the hazards they are likely to encounter
- deal with safety and health matters in consultation with employees
- set measurable safety and health objectives and targets.
Each employee is personally responsible and accountable for their safety and health performance and this shall be reviewed regularly.
(Insert company name) shall provide the time and resources necessary to implement this policy and shall develop, implement and review its objectives, targets, plans and procedures to continually improve workplace safety and health.
To achieve a high standard of safety and health involves shared responsibilities and teamwork. Consequently, (insert company name) is committed to a consultative approach in which all employees at all levels of the organisation are responsible for their own and other people's safety and health in the workplace.
Signed: Chief Executive Officer
Date: _______________________
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