Health & Safety policy is the law

By law clubs employing five or more people must ahve a written health and safety policy. The policy should contain the club's statement of its general policy on health and safety in the workplace and the organisation and arrangements for putting that policy into practice as and when the need arises.

The health and safety poilcy statement is more than just a legal requirement, however, and should be seen as the club's commitment to planning and managing health and safety. It shows employees that you care for their health and safety in the work environment leading to reduced accidents and ill-health.

The responsibility for the health and safety of employees rests on the club committee as the employer but many of the day to day tasks can be delegated.

Employees should be consulted about the policy statement as everyone should be able to see who has been delegated rersponsibility for things such as adice, reporting accidents or first aid.

The Health and Safety Executive produce a very useful guidance note called "Stating Your Business - Guidance on preparing a Health and Safety Policy Document for small firms". The guidance contains an outline statement that can be easily adapted by clubs for their own use and can be obtained free of charge by called the HSE on 01787 88165 or visiting their website www.hsebooks.co.uk

May 2003