A Written Safety Policy

Have a written safety policy if five or more employees. 

We often think of unsafe acts and unsafe conditions as the basic causes of accidents. They are only symptoms of failure. The basic causes are poor management policies and decisions, and personnel and environmental factors. Fortunately, most employers now realize that safety and health must be a necessary part of the total operating system. These anployers take the responsibility to prepare a written safety policy and guidelines to instill safety awareness in their employees. Selection of best employees for the job, training, employee plaeanent, and the purchase of safe equipment and supplies are important to a successful accident prevention program. 

It is proposed that the requirement to appoint safety supervisors will be triggered by the contractor employing five or more persons. This will bring the Construction (General Provisions) Regulations into line with HSW whereby the employment of five or more persons requires the contractor to have a written safety policy. This requirement is likely to be incorporated in the proposed Construction (Management and Miscellaneous Duties) Regulations. 

What is a safety policy statement If your organization has a written safety policy statement, how does it compare to the discussion in the chapter Write a safety policy statement that you can use in your organization. 

Is there a written safety policy statement for the organization ... 

Risk assessments covering their common activities to which significant risks are attached. Although there is no requirement for contractors employing fewer than five people to have either a written safety policy or written risk assessments, not having done so is likely to place them at a disadvantage - references from other contractors would be useful in that case... 

A company s outlook on safety should be communicated to employees, supervisors, and upper management through a written safety policy. This policy is useful in enforcing safety throughout the company. Formats of written policies will vary, but they should be clear and to the point. Sometimes a company s safety policy will include a motto or slogan. This motto is usually printed on various objects and displayed throughout the organization every employee should be familiar with it. 

Generally, a written safety policy statement will run 6—12 sentences in length. It includes some or all of the five elements ... 

Purchasing may be critical to quality, cost efficiency and safety of the service provided. Therefore evidence should be given that there is a written management policy or directive establishing quality criteria. 

Management must develop a written safety and health policy statement. The policy dociunent must be issued and signed by the safety leadership team and should be communicated to all employees in the following manner ... 

A standard operating procedure manual should definitely be prepared for systems as potentially dangerous as open beam analytical systems, and all persons must be made familiar with the procedures applicable to safe use ofthe equipment. The person in charge of the facility is responsible for ensuring that all personnel are informed of safe procedures and that it is required that all personnel must comply with the written safety policies. This should be done not... 

Safety Rules—Safety professionals are often called upon to develop and draft written safety policies, procedures, and programs to ensure the safety of their employees. Safety professionals should pay special attention to the development and drafting of these written documents so as not to inadvertently discriminate against any of the protected classes. For example, if the company employs a process or chemical that can cause birth defects in unborn children, if the safety professional prohibits women who may be pregnant from working near the process or chemical to protect the women and unborn child, could this prohibition be considered discriminatory ... 

Detailed written safety policies and procedures set standards for all daily work activities. Establishing safety procedures increases safety by streamlining employee and management efforts and establishing the parameters that govern how work is to be done. They help create a safety-conscious environment. 

Training and tools — Every employee (from your driver to front-line supervisors) requires training in your written safety policies and procedures. Training is necessary in order to reach a common understanding of the goals and objectives of your policies, and the means to attain them. 

Written safety poiicies Written safety policies are a must for any company. They state how you will conduct your operation with regard to safety — not only for your employees, but also to show any government agency that may inquire about compliance issues. If you truly have written policies and stay the course with them, you will find you have a much better qualified and dedicated employee working foryou. Most individuals like working with a sense of direction and consistency — things written safety policies can deliver. ... 

What other specific work activities and processes should have a related written safety policy at your organization Review the following list of suggested written safety policy topics ... 

Many of the health and safety management requirements contained in health and safety law place an absolute duty on the employer. The need for written safety policies and risk assessments when employee numbers rise above a basic threshold are examples of this. 

The italics have been added to emphasize the salient points of this leqniremenL A formal written safety policy to unify safe practice throughout the company is the first step on the way to improving safety standards in mai ways the fact that it is a legal requirement is the least important reason for producing it. Some other advantages created by the production of a safety policy are ... 

The following are a few advantages of a written safety and health policy ... 

A brief, written safety policy statement should be issued from the utility director or manager. The statement defines upper management s interest in employee welfare as well as in the efficient operation of the utility. The policy should cover these issues... 

Written Safety Policy Statements Guidance for Local Authorities (LAAl/A/3/3)... 

A sample of a written statement for a written safety and health program for accident investigation can be found in Figure 7.7, which also includes a sample statement related to the record keeping policies of the company regarding accidents, incidents, injuries, and illnesses. 

A brief, written safety policy statement might be worded as follows ... 

The health and safety policy statement is your starting point to managing health and safety in the workplace. By law, (Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 section 2(3)) if you employ five or more people you must have a written health and safety policy. This contains your statement of general policy on health and safety at work and the organisation and arrangements for putting that policy into practice. 

REMEMBER What you write in the policy has to be put into practice. The true test of a health and safety policy is the actual conditions in the workplace, not how well the statement is written. 

Safety policies and procedures are documented, and Material Safety Data Sheets are provided for all chemicals used in the laboratory. In addition, a chemical hygiene plan that defines the safety procedures for all hazardous chemicals is written in detail. All laboratory personnel must review these policies on an annual basis. 

Most organizations with a written Health Safety Policy contain statements that hazards will be identified and controlled. It is generally recognized that managers and scientists have, as part of their work, the responsibility to see that all prudent actions are taken to ensure their operations do not lead to unacceptable risks to the health and safety of the organization s employees, customers or to the environment. 

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