Anyone running a new business or planning to do so in the New Year will appreciate the importance of having a robust health and safety policy in place. More than just a legal requirement—it's a strategic imperative for start-ups aiming to build a healthy, supportive, and high-performing company.
While the health and safety of personnel remains the utmost priority, the dynamic nature of today’s workplaces means safety policies are proactive documents that are constantly shifting, updated, and in need of fine-tuning. Whether you’re starting up your own business or revisiting key internal policies, this article explores how to design a safety policy that fits your business.
Why Safety is a Business Priority
It won’t come as a surprise that if you’re planning to start a business, you’ll need to consider the health and safety of your staff. This means having an official health and safety policy in place and measures to prevent employees from being harmed. This is a legal requirement
under the UK Government if you have five or more staff members.
Rather than thinking of health and safety as a minefield,
have a checklist and create a multilayered policy that addresses physical workplace hazards, identifies technological risks, and recognises more sophisticated cybersecurity challenges. Investing in a comprehensive safety policy for a new business is a fundamental decision and one that can be implemented as soon as operations begin.
However, while serious accidents are rare they should be a part of any risk assessment and policy. In the worst case scenario, companies will want to put in place the right rules, regulations, and identify potential hazards to prevent accidents from happening. In the event of an accident, it’s important to extend support and reassure employers following the ramifications of an incident. As
George Ide’s personal injury department explains, “we will do whatever we can to help with employment issues and support you in your return to work, whether you are returning to your previous role or starting a new job.”
Adjusting to Change with Proactive Policies
While businesses remain aware of the traditional approach to workplace safety, changes and improvements have come into play due to digital advances and a greater awareness about mental health, personalisation, and inclusivity. This has meant creating an adjustable policy that suits your business and remains relevant to the people working within it.
Additionally, businesses of every type, size, and structure, should consider developing frameworks that support flexible work arrangements and accommodate the diverse needs and experiences of their employees. They need to consider the negative impact of workplace stress and put in safeguards for individuals that
support Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the workplace.
Therefore, today’s policies must be proactive and prioritise mental health and psychological wellbeing. This comprehensive approach recognises that while protecting and preventing physical injuries is hugely important, so too is creating an environment where every employee can thrive both personally and professionally.
Safeguarding Mental Health
Safeguarding employees’ psychological wellbeing needs to be a key consideration for businesses. There are various tools, strategies, and resources to help understand and mitigate workplace stressors. Mental health risks can be as damaging as physical ones, and employees who feel valued and cared for are more likely to be engaged, creative, and productive. This
NHS Report on being psychologically safe demonstrates how a compassionate employer who can “listen to colleagues, show understanding and act with empathy towards their situation” is invaluable. This is a supportive mindset that colleagues can then mirror with each other.
An open and trusting culture, should take a firm stance against bullying and anti-social behaviour, while embracing language that reflects the company’s diversity. The safety policy must also be clear and easily understood, as well as accessible to all employees, free from complex jargon. Ideally, it will make staff feel comfortable being themselves while maintaining professionalism, knowing that support is available when needed.
Emerging Technologies and Safety
Emerging technologies offer unprecedented opportunities to enhance safety protocols. For instance, advanced machine learning algorithms can now predict and prevent potential workplace incidents with remarkable accuracy. A safety policy begins with a thorough or
dynamic risk assessment. This involves conducting regular workplace inspections to identify potential physical hazards, ensuring that the work environment meets the highest standards of safety.
Beyond physical spaces, organisations can also map technological risks, assessing cybersecurity vulnerabilities and digital workplace challenges that could compromise employee or organisational security. Other wearable tech monitors employees' health and environmental conditions, offering proactive insights into potential risks. Digital reporting systems have also transformed how safety concerns are communicated, providing user-friendly platforms that allow employees to report issues anonymously and efficiently.
More businesses across every industry are looking at ways they can embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) to boost efficiency. Whether a business is using robotics to enhance
order processing in a warehouse or automating routine admin tasks to streamline operations, these new technologies still bring specific safety considerations that employees need to understand.
Introducing Personalised Processes
The most progressive businesses recognise that safety needs are personal and require individual approaches that demonstrate genuine care and understanding. Employees’ mental health is as valid as physical safety, so it’s important to offer flexible resources that fit the personal needs, circumstances, and experiences of your diverse workforce,
creating an inclusive culture for a happier, healthier team of people.
With
one in four people reporting stress at work, stress management resources are more valuable than ever. Ideally, they will include access to counselling and mental health resources. Businesses can also show a willingness to promote a healthy work-life balance and protect employees from workplace burnout and unwarranted stress.
Developing an Accessible Policy
Creating an effective safety policy is a collaborative process. By involving employees from various departments in policy development, businesses can ensure more comprehensive and meaningful guidelines. In turn, employees might feel genuinely empowered to speak up, contribute to risk management, and take an active role in maintaining a safe workplace.
Having an accessible and transparent safety policy signals to potential and existing employees that the business genuinely values and cares about their employees’ wellbeing. With this in mind, carrying out regular safety training is key and can help to maintain a universal culture of safety across the business. The safety policy must be regularly reviewed and updated to adapt to new challenges and innovations.
For employees, knowing that their physical and mental health is a priority matters and having a proactive safety policy reduces potential legal liabilities and financial risks associated with workplace incidents, complaints, and staff absences. Most importantly, a safety policy becomes part of a company’s healthy culture that can elevate a company’s reputation in the local and wider market and sector.
Guest author
