Free health and safety policy template (Word download)
A ready-to-edit health and safety policy for a UK small business, in the three parts the law requires. The statement is already written — add your company name, fill in who does what and how you manage it, then sign and date it.
Download the health and safety policy template (.docx)
[DISCLAIMER — DRAFT, FOR SOLICITOR REVIEW] This template is a starting point only. You are responsible for assessing the risks of your own work, and for making sure any document you produce from it is suitable and sufficient for the task, the site and the people involved. It is not health and safety advice.
What's in the template
- Statement of general policy — your commitment to health and safety, ready to sign
- Organisation — who is responsible for what
- Arrangements — how you manage risk assessment, training, equipment, first aid, accidents, fire, welfare and more
- Review record
- Employee acknowledgement sheet
Do you need a written policy?
Section 2(3) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 requires employers to prepare a written statement of their general policy on health and safety, and the organisation and arrangements for carrying it out — unless they employ fewer than five people. The policy must be brought to the attention of employees and revised as often as appropriate. There is no fixed review period, but review it whenever your business, people or risks change.
The three parts
| Part | What it says |
|---|---|
| Statement of general policy | Your aims and commitment, signed by the person in charge |
| Organisation | Who has overall and day-to-day responsibility, and who does specific jobs like first aid and risk assessment |
| Arrangements | The practical detail of how health and safety is managed in your workplace |
Making it work
- Write it about your business — a copied policy that doesn't match what really happens is worse than useless.
- Put real names against responsibilities.
- Show it to every employee and keep a signed record that they've seen it.
- Link it to your risk assessments — the arrangements section should say how they're done and reviewed.
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