Write a health and safety policy for your business

The arrangements section of your health and safety policy should say how you will meet the commitments you have made in your statement of general policy. See the statement of general health and safety policy.

You should include information on what you are going to do to remove or reduce the risks of the hazards in your workplace.

A hazard is anything in your business that could cause harm to people. A risk is the chance - however large or small - that a hazard could cause harm.

Your health and safety risk assessment should have highlighted the areas that may be a risk and any measures you currently have in place. 

The additional arrangements you will make to control the risks should be set out in the arrangements section of your policy. They could include:

• staff training
• using signs to highlight risks
• improved safety equipment such as guards or additional personal protective equipment including goggles, safety boots or high-visibility clothing 
• replacing hazardous chemicals with less harmful alternatives
• improved lighting or anti-slip flooring

You should focus your attention on the activities that could affect the most people or cause serious harm. 

The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) provide an example and template health and safety policy to give you an idea of what to include when writing your own. 

Environmental policy

If you are including environmental issues in your policy, you should consider areas such as:

• improving pollution controls
• minimising waste
• recycling
• water
• energy

See set up an environmental management system (EMS).