Must I have a Health and Safety policy?

You must have a written Health and Safety Policy if you employ five persons or more. This is in total, so includes those employed part-time. H&S policies and procedures take time to put in place – they’re not just pieces of paper, they should reflect the practices within your organisation that keep everyone safe. This in turn attracts good workers and raises morale. Knowing where you stand in terms of legal compliance will also help if you get sent a claims letter from a lawyer alleging negligence.

In addition, more companies are choosing only to work with those who can prove they have good H&S systems in place, and it gives confidence to your customers or suppliers when you show them that you have this well organised. Insurance companies also check the systems you have in place for reducing risk and this can lead to lower premiums.