subject: Risk Assessment and Health and Safety Policy [print this page] Risk Assessment and Health and Safety Policy
A policy is different from a risk assessment.
* Policy: general vision and arrangements for the whole business.
* Risk assessment: a regular review of how you remove or control hazards, and whether you are doing enough, or if you require further controls.
Legal Duties and Obligations around Health and Safety Policies
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
The Act says that you must prepare a statement and bring it to the attention of all employees. The policy should be reviewed and revised as often as necessary.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
These regulations place duties on employers to assess and manage risks to their employees and others arising from work activities. How this is carried out should be included in the policy.
Involving your Employees
In practice, it can be useful to involve your employees in preparing and implementing the health and safety policy. Where employees are involved in making safety rules, or devising safe working methods, they may be more likely to adhere to them, because they will understand the reasoning behind them. Also, the person who is actually doing a job can be best placed to advise on whether the proposed safe working method will work.
Informing your Employees
There are various ways to bring the policy to the attention of employees. If it is short enough, you may decide to give a copy to each employee.
If you are a larger organisation or your policy is fairly lengthy, you could post copies on notice boards or in appropriate places. Whatever you choose to do, you must make sure that you bring the policy to the attention of all employees.
Is it Important to give Health and Safety Training
You must provide training for your employees to ensure that they:
* know how to work safely and without risks to health
* know about your health and safety policy, how you implement it and the part they have to play
* are aware of their health and safety responsibilities towards themselves, other employees and people visiting your premises.
Training is likely to be particularly important in certain circumstances. For instance, when:
* new people join your business - from employees to work-placement students
* employees change jobs within the business
* an existing risk increases - perhaps because of a greater volume of work
* a new risk is identified - perhaps when new equipment is purchased
Remember that refresher training is particularly important so that complacency doesn't creep in.
