Safety Management Policies

A policy is a statement of intent and purpose and provides the standards, rules, boundaries and guidelines to determine how the policy is to be achieved. Policies need to be supported by procedures or other process type documents that describe how to implement the policy.

Policies shall:

• Make clear, concise statements
• Avoid duplication
• Avoid use of acronyms
• Use everyday words
• Assign responsibility
• Be measurable
• Be auditable

Mandatory OH&S Policies

Common to all businesses and expected regulatory requirements is the obligation for:

• OH&S [Safety] Policy
• Rehabilitation [Return to Work] Policy.

Obligatory Policies

Regulations require that companies meet the needs of their workplace as determined by the risks associated with their business activities. So the need for specific policies will vary depending upon the business.

There are policy commonalities:

• Smoking
• Drug and Alcohol
• Bullying and Violence

Other Workplace Policies

This list is endless and will depend upon workplace activities, workplace risk and the organizational business structure e.g. use of contractors, labour hire etc. Here are some suggestions:

• Asbestos
• Company vehicle use
• Confined spaces
• Contractors
• Electrical safety
• Emergency preparedness
• Employee health
• Excavating
• Fatigue
• First aid
• Fixed plant
• Hazardous substances 
• Height work – risk of fall
• HIV and Aids
• Hot work
• Isolation
• Ladders
• Manual handling
• Mobile phone
• Mobile plant
• Noise
• Personal protective equipment
• Purchasing – safety aspects
• Radiation
• Risk management
• Traffic management
• Working alone or in isolation