Create a free health and safety policy (Word and PDF)

Build the policy

1. 1

   Open the free health and safety policy template page and click Build your policy

   The builder is below the introduction. The preview on the right (below the steps on a phone) updates as you type.

2. 2

   Step 1: Your company — enter the business name, how many employees you have and where you work

   Choose Northern Ireland if you work there; the policy then cites the Northern Ireland law. Tick the roles that apply, such as principal contractor or working for homeowners.

3. 3

   Step 2: People and roles — enter who has overall and day-to-day responsibility, then pick who covers each area

   Use Add a person for anyone else with a health and safety job. Say where your competent health and safety advice comes from.

4. 4

   Step 3: Your work — tick your higher-risk activities

   These add the matching arrangements, such as scaffold and excavation inspections, lifting equipment examinations and health surveillance checks.

5. 5

   Step 4: Arrangements — set review and toolbox talk frequencies, where things are kept, and who signs

Download or copy it

Anything you leave blank prints as a line to fill in by hand. The document ends with an employee acknowledgement sheet and a version history.

1. 1

   Click Download Word (.docx) to get a file you can edit

   Edit any statement that doesn't match how you work before you sign it.

2. 2

   Or click Save as PDF

   Your browser's print window opens. Choose Save as PDF as the printer.

3. 3

   Click Copy statement of intent to paste Part 1 somewhere else

Before you sign it

The template doesn't know your business. Check every statement, get the policy reviewed by a competent person, then sign and date the statement of intent and share the policy with your employees.

To keep the signed copy with your other company paperwork, upload it in Company Documents.