Workplace Health and Safety

A Workplace Health and Safety policy sets clear expectations for preventing workplace injuries and illnesses, reporting hazards and incidents, cooperating with investigations, and following OSHA and any applicable state or local safety requirements, including protections against retaliation for raising safety concerns.

How to Write a Workplace Health and Safety Policy

• Start with why employee health & safety is important to your organization.
• State the shared responsibility to maintain a safe workplace and avoid creating hazards.
• Require employees to follow your organization's safety rules, procedures, and applicable laws.
• Direct employees to pause work and get clarification before proceeding when they're unsure a task can be done safely.
• Require use of required safety gear, equipment, and role-specific safety guidelines.
• Require prompt reporting of any work-related illness or injury, including incidents employees witness.
• Reference any related prevention programs or safety plans that provide detailed standards.
• Require cooperation with internal or agency investigations into safety incidents.
• Explain emergency response expectations, including contacting emergency services for urgent situations.
• Require reporting of unsafe conditions, equipment issues, and near misses.
• Prohibit retaliation for reporting safety concerns or participating in investigations.
• Describe consequences for endangering others or violating safety rules.

For advice on writing a Workplace Health and Safety policy in a specific jurisdiction, see below.