Purpose and Scope
This policy outlines how [Organisation Name] manages the health, safety, and welfare of employees, contractors, visitors, and the public. It covers all activities across every operational site, as well as off-site and remote work.
Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, [Organisation Name] must protect workplace health and safety, conduct risk assessments, and document operational arrangements and findings.
Working through related paperwork at the same time? See also our NY Retail Worker Safety Act Policy Template, Stress & Mental Health at Work Template and US Workplace Safety Policy Template.
Statement of Intent
[Organisation Name] is committed to preventing workplace injury and ill health, complying with the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and all relevant legislation, and supplying required resources, information, training, and supervision. We assess operational risks, implement controls as far as reasonably practicable, consult staff, and continuously improve safety performance.
Signed: [Name], [Role] Date: [Date] Review Frequency: Annual
Responsibilities
- Overall Accountable Person ([Role]): Oversees policy, allocates resources, and leads annual reviews.
- Operational Lead ([Role]): Keeps risk assessments up to date, coordinates incident investigations, and executes safety arrangements.
- Managers and Supervisors: Enforce policy within their teams, run safety inductions for new starters, and stop any unsafe work.
- First Aiders and Fire Marshals ([Role / Named Persons]): Carry out duties detailed in the first aid arrangements and fire evacuation procedures.
- All Employees: Take reasonable care of personal health and safety and that of others. Follow training and instructions, operate equipment correctly, and report hazards, accidents, and near misses immediately.
Risk Assessment Arrangements
- Identify hazards and evaluate risks before starting work, after major operational changes, or following an accident or near miss.
- Document findings and brief affected staff before work begins.
- Record significant findings and required controls in [Location / System].
- Assign a named owner and a review date to every assessment.
- Stop work immediately if actual site practices conflict with the documented risk assessment, and resolve the issue before resuming.
Day-to-Day Safety Arrangements
- First Aid: First aid kits are located at [Location]. Trained first aiders are listed at [Location]. [Role] inspects and restocks kits at [Frequency].
- Fire and Emergencies: Escape routes, assembly points, and marshal duties are detailed in the fire evacuation procedure. Staff conduct and log regular drills and alarm tests.
- Accidents and Near Misses: Report incidents within the same shift via [Location / System]. Investigate them using standard procedures and notify authorities under RIDDOR when legally required.
- Work Equipment: Maintain equipment to manufacturer specifications. Report equipment defects to [Role] and remove faulty items from service immediately.
- Hazardous Substances: Control inventory and complete assessments under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002. Store and use substances according to safety data sheets.
- Welfare Facilities: We provide adequate toilets, washing facilities, clean drinking water, and rest areas for all site personnel.
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Consultation and Communication
We consult on health and safety during team meetings at [Frequency] and through the [Staff Forum / Safety Representative]. Employees can raise safety concerns with management at any time.
Find this policy, active risk assessments, and emergency procedures at [Location / System]. Health and safety is a standing agenda item at [Meeting Name].
Training and Competence
- Run a day-one health and safety induction for all new personnel, covering this policy, emergency procedures, incident reporting, and role-specific hazards.
- Ensure staff complete required role-specific training before working unsupervised.
- Deliver refresher training at [Frequency].
- Log completion dates and refresher schedules in [Location / System]. [Role] reviews training gaps at [Frequency].
Records Management
The organisation stores records in [Location / System] for [Period]. Retained records include:
- Policy versions and review history
- Risk assessments
- Training records
- Accident and near-miss reports
- Equipment maintenance logs
- Emergency drill and alarm test logs
Review Cycle
Review this policy at [Frequency] (at minimum annually), or immediately after a serious incident, enforcement contact, or significant change to premises, headcount, or operational scope.
Policy Owner: [Role] Next Review Due: [Date]
FAQs on a health and safety policy
What is a health and safety policy?
A health and safety policy outlines how your organisation manages the health, safety, and welfare of employees, contractors, visitors, and the public. It covers all activities across every operational site, as well as off-site and remote work.
Having it written down means the same rules apply to everyone, so managers are not making judgement calls case by case under pressure.
What does a health and safety policy include?
This template covers statement of intent, risk assessment arrangements, day-to-day safety arrangements and consultation and communication.
Every section is written to be filled in. The bracketed placeholders mark the decisions that are yours to make, such as timescales, approval owners and retention periods.
How to implement a health and safety policy with Whale
Copy this template into Whale and work through the bracketed placeholders so it reflects how your organisation actually operates.
Assign it to the teams it applies to so it sits where people work rather than in a shared drive, and set a review date so it gets revisited on schedule instead of quietly going out of date.
Use our templates to fast-track your documentation
Customize this template and 100s of others for free in Whale, the fastest way to get your team aligned.