A health and safety policy is crucial for every business. No matter what industry you are in, there are certain health and safety risks that come with the territory. If you don't have a health and safety policy in place, you are putting your employees at risk. Not only that, but you could also be facing legal action if an accident occurs on your premises. In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of a health and safety policy and how to create one that is right for your business.
Did you know that depending on what industry you work in and how many employees you have, as an employer you may have different obligations under Health & Safety legislation? Even as a small start-up, or organization with less than 10 employees, you are still required to have a Health & Safety Policy. While you may not require a Worker Safety Representative, Joint Health & Safety Committee, or a robust Health & Safety Management System quite yet, you do have to ensure that your workers are kept safe while performing their assigned duties.
Creating a health and safety policy may seem like a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be. Start by taking a look at your business and determining what risks are present. Once you have identified the risks, you can put together a policy that outlines how you will address them. Remember to consult with your employees when creating the policy, as they will be the ones who have to follow it. And, of course, make sure to review and update your policy on a regular basis.
So why is a health and safety policy so important? Not only does it protect your employees, but it also protects your business. By having a policy in place, you are showing that you are committed to keeping your workers safe. This can go a long way in preventing accidents and injuries, and it can also help you avoid legal action if an accident does occur.
As an employer, you have to keep your employees safe through knowledge, training, hazard assessments, procedures, and open communication. Your workers need to understand the following items in order to perform their jobs safely, efficiently, and with the highest quality. To do this, they will need you as the employer to be able to answer the following questions:
What are the tasks they are asked to perform?
How are they supposed to perform those tasks?
What are the hazards associated with the equipment, machinery, environment, materials, and tools they use?
Is there any special Personal Protective Equipment, or PPE required?
Is there any additional training they will require, such as Lockout or Chemical Awareness?
Should they expect to be asked to perform non-routine duties to help other workers in short-notice situations?
How do they report new hazards, incidents, or injuries that occur on the job?
Is there a Workplace Violence and Harassment policy in place to help protect them from the public or other workers?
If you don't have a health and safety policy in place, now is the time to create one. Not sure where to start? We can help. Remember, Experience is the best teacher. Use ours.