A company's health and safe

Company’s Health and Safety policy

A health and safety policy sets out your general approach and commitment together with the arrangements you have put in plce for managing health and safety in your business.
It is a unique document that says who does what, when and how.

The policy is usually made up of three parts:
- Statement of intent ( what you intend to do )- a written policy statement which shows your staff, and anyone else, your commitment to health and safety.
- Organisation ( who will be involved)- this section names those who will have responsibilities for health and safety matters in your company.
- Arrangements ( how you will put it in place)- this section explains how you will control the min hazards that have identified in your risk assessment.

Your health and safety policy will only be effective if it is acted upon and followed by you and your staff. It should be reviewed regularly (at least annually) or sooner if there are changes to work processes, plant, equipment or staff.

Managing Health and Safety

It is a big mistake to believe that accidents will never happen in your business or that helth and safety only applies to larger or higher risk workplaces.
Small business are likely to have twice the number of fatal accidents compared to larger ones.
If you think your insurance will cover ALL the costs in the event of an accident in your workplace then think again. Insurance will pay for large compensation claims in the event of disabling injuries or serios damage to property but this may only be a small proportion of overall cost.

Many of the extra costs associated with an accident or illness not actually covered by your insurance policy may include:
- Sick pay;
- Wages of temporary workers;
- Overtime;
- Loss of production;
- Repair to plant and equipment;
- Legl costs;
- Etc.

How to protect the workers
Health and safety is about sensible, proportionate actions that protect people, not unnecessary