All Companies employing more that 5 people are legally required to have a written Health and Safety Policy (Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, section 2(3))
Your health and safety policy statement sets out how you manage health and safety in your organisation. It is also your key to achieving acceptable standards, reducing accidents and work-related ill health and it shows your employees that you really care about health and safety It is unique to your business and shows who does what, when and how they do it.
The policy statement should be reviewed and possibly revised in the light of experience, or because of operational or organisational changes. You must also review the policy regularly (e.g. annually).
Although not legally required to do so, businesses with less than five employees should also consider having such a policy as good practice. It could prove useful to have something in writing and can be instrumental in winning new business!
