Health and Safety

2. Health and Safety Policy

If you employ five or more people, you must have a written health and safety policy. Make sure all your employees are aware of it. Even if you have fewer than five employees, you may want to have some written documents.

2.1 The policy should at least contain your general approach to health and safety.

• The leaflet 'An introduction to health and safety' is available free of charge from HSE Books (see 8.2).

2.2 The policy should include how you organise for health and safety.

• Appoint 'competent persons' to assist with the organisation of health and safety matters.
• You may need to use an outside consultancy for help.
• The directors of your company still retain ultimate responsibility. They could face civil or criminal legal proceedings if health and safety failures lead to an accident.

2.3 The policy should also include or refer to the specific procedures you have for managing health and safety.

• For example, your evacuation procedure in the event of a fire.