If you have 5 or more employees, then yes as it is a legal requirement to have a written health and safety policy.

If you have fewer than 5 employees, you don’t need to write it down but you do still need to manage health and safety properly.

The policy should cover 3 main sections, these are:

Statement of Intent - this outlines your overall aims and commitment to managing health and safety. This should be signed and dated by the most senior person.

Responsibilities - Clearly defines who is responsible for what.

Arrangements - Details what your are doing to comply with legislation, such as risk assessments and procedures.

Yes, all businesses must assess risks to employees and anyone else affected by their work such as visitors or the public.

If you have 5 or more employees this must be written down.

There is no fixed time but the assessments should be reviewed:

• At least once a year

• When something changes, such as new equipment, processes or staff

• After an accident or near miss

You must have a fire risk assessment in place at all times. It should be reviewed:

• Regularly, annually is good practice

• If there are changes to the building or staff

• After a fire incident or near miss

All employees must be given sufficient information, instruction and training to be able to complete their job safely.

Some accidents must be reported under RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations).

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) lists all types accidents and incidents that must be reported.

Fire alarms should be tested weekly on a rotational basis.

Extinguishers must be serviced annually by a professionally and should be visually checked regularly for any signs of damage.

All businesses must display the Health and Safety Law poster or provide a leaflet and the Employers’ Liability insurance certificate

The employer is responsible but employees also have a duty to:

Take care of themselves and others

Follow safety instructions

The Construction (Design and Management) regulations are rules that help make sure construction work is planned and carried out safely, from start to finish.

They apply to all construction projects, no matter how big or small including building work, renovations, repairs, and maintenance.

There are several key roles:

• Client – the person paying for the work

• Principal Designer – in charge of safety during the design stage

• Principal Contractor – in charge of safety during construction

Everyone involved has some responsibility for safety.

It’s a document that explains how health and safety will be managed during the project.

It must be in place before work starts, even for small jobs.

This is a form that must be sent to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for larger projects.

You need it if the project:

• Lasts longer than 30 working days with 20+ workers at the same time, or

• Exceeds 500 person-days of work

Manual handling means lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling items by hand.

Yes, if your employees do any lifting or moving of items that could cause injury.

No, there’s no fixed legal weight limit.

What’s safe depends on:

• The person

• The load

• The environment

• How the item is lifted

The Building Safety Act 2022 is a UK law introduced to improve safety in buildings, especially high-rise residential buildings, after serious fire safety concerns.

These are usually:

• Residential buildings

• At least 18 metres tall or 7 storeys high