Set up employment policies for your business

Health and safety policies

Encouraging good health and safety practice is important for your business. This means not just doing the minimum to abide by the law, but also managing the policy in a way which is most beneficial to your type of business, your employees, your clients and the local community.

By law you are obliged to:

• Assess health and safety risks in your workplace, eg nominating a health and safety representative.
• Implement suitable policy controls. These need to be written down and stored on file or computer if you have five or more employees.
• Maintain minimum levels of hygiene and comfort, eg ensuring that your workplace is clean, well ventilated, complies with minimum temperature requirements, and has mains drinking water. See our guide on how to meet minimum workplace standards.
• Record and report certain serious health and safety workplace incidents, under the RIDDOR regulations. This can be carried out by a nominated first aider or fire safety officer. See our guide on how to record and report an accident, incident or near miss.
• Comply with regulations to protect the environment, eg ensuring that you comply with rules on waste storage and trade effluent. See our guide on how to manage waste, pollution and effluent.

In addition to statutory requirements, you may decide to introduce a range of facilities promoting good health practice, eg a gym, advice on how to give up smoking, alcohol or drugs, and routine health check-ups. The benefits for your business can include the improved overall health of your employees, and improved morale and productivity. See our guide on your responsibilities for health, safety and the environment.

You're required by law to consult with your employees regarding safety issues in the workplace and to make them aware of what's in your policy. See our guide on how to communicate your health and safety procedures.

However, you may decide to encourage them to get involved more fully in the process. This could involve devising safety rules, as well as giving useful feedback on how effectively policies are working.

Subjects covered in this guide

• Introduction
• What types of policies should I set up?
• Working time policies
• Patents and copyright
• Health and safety policies
• Disciplinary and conduct policies - harassment, bullying and disputes
• Company policies and facilities
• Training and performance management
• Pay, rewards and benefits
• Writing staff policies

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