The Importance of Health and Safety Policies for Good Governance and Risk Control

Occupational Health and safety policies are essential for any organisation that wants to create a safe and healthy workplace. They provide a framework for managing risks, preventing accidents, and improving overall governance.

What are health and safety policies?

Health and safety policies are documents that outline an organisation's commitment to health and safety, as well as its specific goals and objectives. They also help to ensure that all employees are aware of their responsibilities and that the organisation is complying with all relevant legislation.

Health and Safety Policies and their procedures also form part of a Health and Safety Management System.

Should you need more information on how to develop such a system, contact us and we will call you.

Why are health and safety policies in Educational Institutions important?

Health and safety policies are important for a number of reasons. They can help to:

Improve productivity and morale. A safe and healthy workplace is a more productive workplace. Employees who feel safe and valued are more likely to be productive and engaged in their work.

Enhance the organisation's reputation. Organisations that are committed to health and safety have a better reputation. This can make it easier to attract and retain customers and employees.

How do health and safety policies in Schools improve governance?

Health and safety policies can help to improve governance by:

Providing a clear framework for decision-making. Health and safety policies provide a clear framework for decision-making on all matters related to health and safety. This can help to ensure that decisions are made in a consistent and informed manner.

Promoting accountability. Policies required in health and safety assign clear roles and responsibilities to all employees. This helps to promote accountability and ensure that everyone is doing their part to keep the workplace safe.

Facilitating continuous improvement. Health and safety policies should be reviewed and updated on a regular basis to ensure that they are effective and up-to-date. This helps to promote continuous improvement in the organisation's health and safety performance.

How do health and safety policies help to avoid unsafe acts, accidents, and non-conformances from the department of labour?

Health and safety policies can help to avoid unsafe acts, accidents, and non-conformances from the department of labour by:

Raising awareness of health and safety risks. Health and safety policies help to raise awareness of health and safety hazards within the workplace among all employees. This helps to reduce the likelihood of unsafe acts and accidents.

Providing guidance on how to work safely. Health and safety policies provide guidance on how to work safely in all areas of the workplace. This helps to reduce the risk of accidents and non-conformances.

Establishing a system for reporting and investigating incidents. Health and safety policies establish a system for reporting and investigating incidents. This helps to identify and address hazards before they cause accidents or injuries.

If you are looking for ways to improve your organisation's health and safety performance, consider implementing or reviewing your health and safety policies. Effective health and safety policies can help you to reduce the risk of accidents and injuries, improve compliance with legislation, and enhance your organisation's reputation.

Conducting a health and safety audit is the best way to determine if you have sufficient policies and procedures in place to govern your health and safety in the workplace.

Contact us to find out how to book an audit.

Talk to an Expert

Some of the most common health and safety hazards include:

Slips, trips, and falls

Trips and falls are the most common cause of workplace injuries. They can be caused by a variety of factors, including wet or slippery surfaces, uneven flooring, poor lighting, and clutter.

Slips, trips, and falls can be prevented by keeping floors clean and dry, repairing any uneven flooring, and ensuring that there is adequate lighting in all areas.

Lifting and carrying

Lifting and carrying heavy objects can cause a variety of injuries, including back injuries, muscle strains, and sprains.

Lifting and carrying injuries can be prevented by using proper lifting techniques and avoiding lifting objects that are too heavy.

Machine guarding

Machines can cause serious injuries if they are not properly guarded.

Machine guarding injuries can be prevented by ensuring that all machines are properly guarded and that employees are adequately trained on how to use them safely.

Chemical exposure

Exposure to hazardous chemicals can cause a variety of health problems, including respiratory problems, skin irritation, and cancer.

Chemical exposure injuries can be prevented by using proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and by following safe handling and storage procedures.

Electrical hazards

Electrical hazards can cause serious injuries, including burns, electrocution, and death.

Electrical hazards injuries can be prevented by using proper electrical equipment and by following safe electrical work procedures.

Not knowing what hazards are affecting your employees may be the result of a poor risk assessment, conducting a risk assessment with MAKROSAFE will assist you to identify and control such hazards.

Speak with us to determine which dangers are in your workplace.

Talk to an Expert

Tips for developing effective health and safety policies

When developing health and safety policies, it is important to keep the following tips in mind:

Involve employees in the process. Employees who are involved in the development of health and safety policies are more likely to understand and comply with them.

Make sure the policies are specific and measurable. Policies should be specific enough to provide clear guidance to employees, but also measurable enough to allow the organisation to track its progress.

Communicate the policies to all employees. Employees need to be aware of the health and safety policies in order to comply with them.

Provide training on the policies. Employees need to be trained on the health and safety policies in order to understand them and to be able to comply with them.

Monitor compliance with the policies. The organisation should monitor compliance with the health and safety policies to ensure that they are being followed.

Review and update the policies regularly. The health and safety policies should be reviewed and updated regularly to ensure that they are effective and up-to-date.

Remember poor Health and Safety Governance is a serious issue with dire consequences.

Elevate safety in schools through MAKROSAFE's interconnected platforms. Discover the power of ExpertGuidance within the context of your school's unique needs. Click through to the SafetyWallet Subscription to embark on a transformative journey towards safety excellence.

Have questions? Engage with us through the chat box on your screen—we're here to guide you toward a safer, more compliant future.

To find out what other Additional Services we offer, please click on the picture below:

MAKROSAFE / SAFETYWALLET / MY SAFETY SHOP are in Partnership.