Safety Policy

What Does Safety Policy Mean?

An organization's safety policy is a recognized, written statement of its commitment to protect the health and safety of the employees, as well as the surrounding community. The safety policy also details the measures the company takes and will take to protect the life, limb, and health of their employees, often surpassing the requirements set out by the laws or by the standard practices of the industry.

Safeopedia Explains Safety Policy

The Occupational Health and Safety Act requires employers to develop and implement a safety policy. To succeed, a safety policy requires both a commitment and endorsement from the employer and buy-in from the employees.

There are generally three sections in a safety policy, which include:

• Statement of the policy - The employer’s commitment to managing health and safety and the goal of the policy
• Responsibility - Stating who is responsible for implementing, enacting, and tracking each element of the policy
• Arrangements or procedures - Outlines the details of procedures including the reduction of hazard policy

It may also include details about the following:

• Employee training
• Use of administrative controls, hazard isolation, locking, warnings, signs and symbols marking hazards, etc.
• Use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Removing hazardous materials or replacing them with less harmful alternatives
• Improved lighting and working environment
• Prevention of slip, trip, and fall incidents