More than just words on paper.
At a recent Hastam Benchmarking Event we discussed assumptions often made by leaders when asked to think about the safety of their organisation. Amongst the common misconceptions we talked about were;
“ the more procedures you have, the safer the organisation “ “Safety is a bureaucrat paper exercise.”
“of course, everybody follows procedures “
A well-crafted Health and Safety Policy ( together with associated procedures ) can often be seen as the cornerstone of any organisation's commitment to protecting the well-being of its employees, visitors, and stakeholders. But it's essential to understand that a good policy is just the beginning. It cannot work in isolation and needs to be part of a broader Safety Management System (SMS) ,
So, let’s start by asking - What Does a Good Health and Safety Policy Look Like?
Accessibility: A good policy should be easily accessible to all employees - It should not be buried somewhere on your intranet.
Clarity and Simplicity: The policy should be written in plain language, using your organisations usual “tone of voice “, avoiding jargon and technical terms where possible. This makes it understandable to everyone, regardless of their role or level of expertise.
Meaningful Commitment - It should express a clear and unwavering commitment to health and safety, demonstrating that your organisation places the highest value on the well-being of its people.
Actionable: It should outline specific goals, objectives, and strategies for achieving safety targets. Going beyond mere words and enabling you to translate intentions into concrete actions.
Continuous Improvement - A good policy recognises that safety is not static. It should emphasize a commitment to ongoing evaluation and improvement of safety measures.
Why Doesn't a Policy Work in Isolation?
Whilst health and safety policies can form the foundations of what you do, they cannot stand alone. James Reason's Swiss Cheese Model, for example suggests that multiple layers of defence are needed to prevent accidents. Your policies must be integrated with other elements of a Safety Management System. To include:
Defined Roles and Responsibilities - Defining roles and responsibilities is crucial. Employees should know who is accountable for what aspects of safety, creating a sense of ownership and responsibility.
Employee Engagement - Safety as a collective effort. Employees need to be engaged and actively involved in identifying hazards, reporting incidents, and suggesting improvements. An engaged workforce is more likely to follow your safety procedures.
Leadership by Example - Leaders and managers setting the tone for the organisation's safety culture through their words and deeds. When leaders proactively prioritise safety, employees are more likely to do the same.
Audit and Assurance Activity - Regular audits and assurance helps to maintain accountability and ensures the policy is more than just words on paper.
Training and Education - A comprehensive safety management system includes ongoing training and education programmes to arm employees with the knowledge and skills necessary to work safely.
Incident Reporting and Investigation - Establishing an accessible and transparent system for reporting and investigating incidents is crucial to identify and implement corrective actions and prevent future incidents.
So, looking back again at our Benchmarking discussion, we concluded that there is a place for a good Health and Safety Policy, but not as a standalone document; it's just one piece of the puzzle. To truly protect your workforce and create a culture of safety, you must integrate the policy into a broader Safety Management System, championed by an organisation’s leaders. When all of these elements work together, not only do you create a safer and healthier work environment, but you can also demonstrate a genuine commitment to the well-being of employees, moving safety away from being a dusty policy, to a way of doing business.