Health and Safety Policy Documents
If you employ five or more people, having a written health and safety policy isn’t optional — it’s a legal requirement under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. We write policies that are specific to your business, not recycled templates with your logo stuck on top.
What a policy includes
A compliant health and safety policy has three parts:
- Statement of Intent — your commitment to managing health and safety, signed by the most senior person in the business
- Organisation — who is responsible for what within your business (this is where many generic templates fall short)
- Arrangements — the specific procedures you have in place for the hazards and risks relevant to your work
We write all three sections based on what you actually do. The arrangements section in particular should be specific to your operations — a care company’s policy should look very different from a construction contractor’s.
What we need from you
To write your policy, we typically need:
- A brief description of what your business does and the main activities involved
- Details of your premises (one site, multiple sites, mobile/field-based work?)
- Approximate number of employees and any subcontractors
- Any existing documentation you already have
That’s usually enough to get started. We’ll ask follow-up questions if we need anything else.
Who this is for
Any business that:
- Employs five or more people and doesn’t have a written policy in place
- Has a policy but it’s generic, out of date, or doesn’t reflect how the business actually works
- Has grown or changed significantly since the existing policy was written
- Is preparing for a tender, client audit, or insurance review that requires sight of their H&S documentation
H&S Policy FAQ
Q: Does my policy need to be reviewed?
A: Yes. Your policy should be reviewed whenever there is a significant change to your business — new premises, new activities, changes in staffing, or changes in legislation. A good default is to review it annually.
Q: Can I just use a free template from the internet?
A: You can — but the Arrangements section of a free template will rarely reflect your actual business. If you’re audited or investigated, a policy that clearly doesn’t match your operations is a liability, not a protection.
Q: Do I need separate policies for different sites?
A: Usually one policy covers the whole business, but the Arrangements section may need to address different activities or locations. We’ll advise you on the right structure.
Q: How long does it take?
A: Most policy documents are completed within 14 days. We’ll confirm timescales before we start.