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Health and safety policies and procedures
Last updated September 2022
This chapter explains what health and safety policies and procedures you should have in your workplace, and how to implement them effectively.
What are health and safety policies?
Definition: Health and Safety Policies
Health and safety policies are the documented principles, objectives, obligations and commitments that guide health and safety decision-making within a business.
Health and safety policies are the documented principles, objectives, obligations and commitments that guide health and safety decision-making within a business.
Important: The development and implementation of policies dealing with work health and safety is a critical aspect of your business’ compliance with health and safety legislation.
Health and safety policies also help you to:
- demonstrate that your business is addressing its health and safety obligations;
- show that your business is committed to working within a set of health and safety principles;
- clarify functions and responsibilities in your business; and
- manage workers more effectively by defining acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.