Assistance with Health and Safety Policy Writing

As an employer, you are responsible for ensuring the safety of your staff, contractors, visitors, public, customers, and whoever may come to your premises. To successfully outline your expectations and intentions you will need to write a selection of policy statements. We can assist you with this policy writing, here at Walker Health and Safety. These policies can range from health and safety to data protection; this task can seem daunting and time consuming, but it doesn’t have to be.

We can talk you through the requirements of each policy and highlight how your industry may differ from others. We can help with the following policies:

Health and Safety Policy Statement

It is a legal requirement for businesses to have a health and safety policy statement if the company has employed more than five members of staff. A health and safety policy statement details how health and safety is managed within the workplace. It demonstrates the overall attitude towards health and safety and the steps, arrangements and systems in place to help ensure the businesses are fully compliant with health and safety legislations.

For businesses with less than five members of staff, while it is not legally required to have a health and safety policy statement in place, it is still advantageous to have a written policy, benefits include:

1. Demonstrating a firm commitment to the health, safety, and welfare of employees and others.
2. Clarifies who has the ultimate responsibility for each health and safety matter
3. Builds confidence in your business when seeking new contracts for work.

Health and Safety Policy Writing

Whilst it is a legal requirement it can be difficult to understand what a health and safety policy actually is and why it is important. Your business must have a health and safety policy. Most businesses set out their policy in three sections:

• The statement of general policy on health and safety at work sets out your commitment to managing health and safety effectively, and what you want to achieve
• The responsibility section sets out who is responsible for specific actions
• The arrangements section contains the details of what you are going to do in practice to achieve the aims set out in your statement of health and safety policy. e.g. risk assessments and regular reviews.

Environmental Policy Writing

Environmental policy writing involves the commitment of an organisation to the laws, regulations, and other policy mechanisms concerning environmental issues.

The issues covered in the environmental policy writing generally include air and water pollution, solid waste management, ecosystem management, maintenance of biodiversity, the protection of natural resources, wildlife, and endangered species.

Environmental policy writing concerns energy or regulation of toxic substances including pesticides and many types of industrial waste. This policy can be deliberately taken to direct and oversee human activities and thereby prevent harmful effects on the biophysical environment and natural resources, as well as to make sure that changes in the environment do not have harmful effects on humans.

Equal Opportunities Policy Writing

We can also assist with the creation of an equal opportunities policy for your organisation. An equal opportunities policy should clearly document your organisation’s commitment to non-discriminatory procedures and practices. By defining the forms of discrimination covered you can set out your expectations for employees and ensure you comply with the Equalities Act 2010.

Drugs and Alcohol Policy Writing

A drugs and alcohol policy shows your organisation’s responsibility and commitment to ensure a safe and healthy workplace. It ensures that employees can work in an environment free from substances. The policy is used to outline your expectations for maintaining an alcohol and drug-free environment.

Here at Walker Health and Safety Services, we can assist you in writing your policies. We have many years’ experience producing documentation for businesses and can highlight areas that you may want to include in your policy reflective of the market place you are in. Get in touch with our team today.