Comprehensive Health & Safety Policy: Definition & Requirements

A health and safety policy is a workplace guideline meant to protect the well-being of employees and customers. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration, known as OSHA, requires U.S. organizations with more than five employees to have one of these policies.

Compliance

• Health and safety policies must be clearly posted or otherwise available to employees. Employees must be provided with any additional safety-related training required for certain jobs. Employers must monitor the effectiveness of their policies and make necessary adjustments.

Hazards

• OSHA requires that employers perform a job hazard analysis, which analyzes duties of a given job and determines safe practices in a given environment. The idea is to create a workplace in which all employees are aware of safety issues.

Inspection

• OSHA is authorized to conduct workplace inspections and enforce the "General Duty Clause" to ensure that employers provide everyone with a "safe and healthful" workplace.