Health and Safety Policy Templates

A variety of downloadable policies, including our Company Health and Safety Policy.

Access a variety of health and safety policies and policy statements covering legal documents, environmental concerns, professional conduct, and good work practices.

Health and Safety Policies are a legal requirement for companies and are often requested by clients and organisations you work with or are in your supply chain. The policy outlines your overall approach to managing health and safety in your workplace and explains how you, as an employer, will ensure the safety of your employees. It should identify who is responsible for what, when, and how. If your business has five or more employees, it is mandatory to have a written policy. The health and safety policy is a document that demonstrates your organisation's commitment to ensuring the safety of your employees at work. The head of the organisation ultimately signs it off.

A policy on health and safety at work should cover three main areas to ensure a safe and healthy work environment.

Part 1: Statement of Intent

• This part should state your general policy on health and safety at work, including your commitment to managing health and safety and your aims. You should sign and review it regularly as the employer or most senior person in the company.

Part 2: Responsibilities for Health and Safety

• This section should include a list of the names, positions, and roles of the people in your business with specific health and safety responsibilities.

Part 3: Arrangements for Health and Safety

• Provide detailed information on the practical arrangements you have in place to achieve your health and safety policy aims. This includes risk assessment, training employees, and using safety signs or equipment.

You can use our health and safety policy templates to outline your business's commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of your employees. We offer lifetime access to these templates, and as laws and regulations change, we update the documents free of charge.

All our templates are available in Microsoft Word™ and can be downloaded instantly.

If you have any questions about our health and safety policy templates, please don't hesitate to contact our team—we are always happy to help.

What is a Health & Safety Policy and do I need one?

It's essential to understand that under the Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974, an employer must legally ensure people's safety and welfare at work. This act is the cornerstone of workplace health and safety, and HSEDocs are instrumental in fulfilling its requirements. If your workplace has more than five full-time employees, it's a legal requirement to have your Company Health and Safety Policy documented.

A Company Health and Safety Policy outlines the approach it takes to maintain health and safety within the workplace and typically includes:

• The employer's commitment to health and safety.
• The specific tasks that are the responsibility of different individuals regarding health and safety (such as routine checks of fire alarms).
• The actions implemented to ensure the employer's safety commitment (such as safety signage, training, or PPE).

Ensuring compliance with HSE regulations is an ongoing process. It's recommended that you review your company's health and safety policy at least once a year. This review should involve the health and safety officer, the managing director, and any other persons involved with health and safety and employee wellbeing. If your workplace has undergone significant changes, such as the introduction of new equipment or a substantial increase in staff count, the policy should be reviewed as required to maintain its effectiveness.

A health and safety policy should include three main sections:

• Section 1 - The employer's statement of intent.
• Section 2 - The employer's responsibilities for health and safety, and who is responsible for what.
• Section 3 - The processes and procedures to ensure compliance with the employer's statement of intent.

Various elements should be included in a company health and safety policy, although these will differ by industry:

• Employee health and safety Codes of Practice.
• Reporting arrangements for H&S issues.
• Emergency procedures.
• Risk Assessment procedures.
• First aid procedures.
• COSHH Assessments and procedures.
• Machinery safety and maintenance procedures.
• PPE usage.
• Provision of welfare procedures.
• Food hygiene procedures.
• H&S training and induction procedures.
• Smoking, alcohol, and drugs procedures.
• Traffic management policy.
• Safety of contractors and visitors.

Do I need more than a Company Health and Safety Policy?

Environmental Policy.

An Environmental Policy, while not a legal requirement, holds significant importance. Many principal contractors, clients, and customers value its presence, making it a worthwhile consideration for your business.

An Environmental Policy, while not a legal requirement, holds significant importance. Many principal contractors, clients, and customers value its presence, making it a worthwhile consideration for your business.

Modern Slavery Policy.

The Modern Slavery Act 2015 is a globally leading piece of legislation that sets out how modern slavery and human trafficking should be dealt with in the UK. While not all of the Act is directly relevant for businesses, section 54, also known as 'Transparency in supply chains', impacts the corporate sector. This act came into force on 29th October 2015 and requires certain businesses to disclose a 'slavery and human trafficking statement'.

The Act outlines how businesses must report and address slavery and human trafficking. Only specific companies that act as a corporate body or partnership and carry out business in any part of the UK with an annual turnover of at least £36 million or more per year are legally obligated to provide a modern slavery and human trafficking statement.

Even though you may not need a Modern Slavery Policy, if you have one, it shows your support and commitment to ending the contemporary slave trade.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement.

Although not a legal requirement, most companies consider diversity a must in our incredibly diverse society.

It is a legal requirement for public sector employers, including local government, schools, the civil service, police, and the NHS, to prioritise equality when performing their public functions. It is important to note that this legal obligation does not bind private companies that do not perform public functions.

This obligation requires public sector employers to have due regard to the following factors:

• Eliminating any discrimination, harassment, and victimisation that may occur under the Equality Act 2010. This includes age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
• Advancing equality of opportunity by ensuring everyone has a fair chance to succeed and reach their full potential. This includes ensuring that recruitment, promotion, and training processes are unbiased and that reasonable adjustments are made to support employees with disabilities.
• Fostering good relationships between individuals who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not. This involves creating an inclusive work environment where everyone is treated with respect and dignity and where differences are celebrated rather than stigmatised.

Public sector employers must take these obligations seriously to ensure they provide fair, safe, and supportive services to the public.

Equal Pay and Minimum Wage Statement.

It is important to note that employers are legally obligated to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants. Discrimination based on an individual's race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic is strictly prohibited by law. This includes paying employees less or offering them less favourable working conditions because of their protected characteristics. Employers who engage in discriminatory practices can face serious legal consequences, including fines and lawsuits. Employers must ensure their policies and practices comply with anti-discrimination laws and promote a fair and inclusive workplace.

Employers are highly recommended to have and follow an Equal Pay and Minimum Wage Statement, even though it's not legally mandatory.

Privacy Policy.

A legal requirement for any business that holds personal data, with information about people such as their names and email addresses. In today's digital age, most companies collect and store personal data about their customers or clients. This data may include anything from a person's name and email address to sensitive information such as their date of birth, address, and financial details. However, businesses that collect and store personal data are legally obligated to protect that data and ensure it is not misused or mishandled. This legal requirement applies to small businesses, charities, groups, and larger organisations. Therefore, companies must understand their responsibilities when handling personal data and take appropriate measures to safeguard it. Failure to comply with these legal requirements can result in significant fines and damage a company's reputation.

A Privacy Policy is a legal document or statement that explains how a party collects, uses, discloses, and manages customers' or clients' data in compliance with privacy laws. The policy describes how this information is gathered, stored, and used and how it may be shared with third-party entities. It also outlines the measures taken to ensure the security and confidentiality of the collected data and the rights of customers or clients to access, correct, or delete their personal information.

compliance with applicable privacy laws and regulations.