Health & Safety Policy

Good practice in health and safety is good for your organisation – and it's the law!

If you think health and safety has to be complicated - it doesn't. CSS can provide expert information, advice and guidance to ensure you comply with the law and manage health and safety in your organisation.

Health and safety legislation covers so many different areas that it is undoubtedly difficult to fully understand the enormity of responsibilities placed upon you.  You may manage most aspects of health and safety in your business yourself, or with help from your staff. But if you are not confident of your ability to manage all health and safety in-house or unsure if you have everything covered, you may need some external help or advice. Let us help you identify, assess and control common risks in your business.

Our experts will visit your premises to assess your health and safety risks and provide expert advice and guidance to ensure that you are complying with your health and safety responsibilities.

Our Health & Safety Policy Service typically involves (but is not limited to):

  • initially meeting with the nominated responsible person

  • completing a survey of your premises including risk classification, hazard identification, records (including of incidents and periodic checks) etc.

  • ensuring systems are in place for the safety of all people working at or visiting the premises

  • writing a fully comprehensive report that clearly identifies concerns and an action plan to address any deficiencies etc.

  • writing a health and safety policy that is bespoke to your premises/business OR reviewing your existing health and safety policy (and then working with you to update this in line with advice given in the comprehensive report)

  • advising on staff inductions and training

  • providing ongoing advice and guidance

Why is a health & safety policy needed?

The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 is the primary piece of legislation covering occupational health and safety in Great Britain.

It sets out the general duties which: 

  • employers have towards employees and members of the public

  • employees have to themselves and to each other

  • certain self-employed have towards themselves and others

Ensuring health and safety compliance will help you:

  • protect your workers, visitors, contractors etc.

  • save money (i.e. costs of covering absence, recruitment, insurance)

  • avoid legal action

  • improve productivity

  • keep your business reputation

Every business must have a policy for managing health and safety. A health and safety policy sets out your general approach to health and safety. It explains how you will manage health and safety in your business. It should clearly say who does what, when and how.

If you have five or more employees, you must write your policy down. If you have fewer than five employees you do not have to write anything down, but it is useful to do so (particularly to help evidence what steps you have taken to safeguard persons involved in your business should an incident occur). You must share the policy, and any changes to it, with your employees. The policy must be reviewed regularly.

The policy should cover three areas (click + for details)

  • State your general policy on health and safety at work, including your commitment to managing health and safety and your aims.

  • List the names, positions and roles of the people in your business who have specific responsibility for health and safety.

  • Give details of the practical arrangements you have in place, showing how you will achieve your health and safety policy aims. This could include, for example, doing a risk assessment, training employees and using safety signs or equipment.

As an employer, you must appoint a competent person or people to help you meet your health and safety legal duties. It's not usually essential for them to have formal qualifications and they're not required by law to have formal training, although it can help.

CSS is here to help

If you have a general query about health and safety or would like to arrange a visit, please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss your requirements.

We are here to help you to ensure that you are doing enough to meet the minimum legislative health and safety requirements.

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Contact us.

info@csscompliance.co.uk