📋 Service — Health & Safety Policy

Set the Standard.
Put it in Writing.

A Health & Safety Policy is a legal requirement for employers with five or more employees — and best practice for everyone else. We write yours from scratch: a clear statement of commitment, defined responsibilities, and practical arrangements covering every significant hazard in your business.

£75 From — sole trader / small business
5+ Employees — legally required
Annual Review included
PDF Sign & file, inspection-ready

What is an H&S Policy — and Who Needs One?

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Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, Section 2(3)
Every employer with five or more employees must prepare, and keep up to date, a written statement of their general policy on H&S. This policy must include the organisation and arrangements for carrying it out, and be brought to the attention of all employees.
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Fewer Than Five Employees? Still Best Practice
Even if you're below the legal threshold, a written H&S policy demonstrates to clients, contractors, insurers, and any regulator that your business takes safety seriously. Many clients — especially public sector and commercial — require it before awarding contracts regardless of your headcount.
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Must be Reviewed Regularly
A policy written once and filed is inadequate. It must be reviewed when there are significant changes to the business — new employees, new premises, new hazards, or following an incident. We build a review history table and annual review date into every policy.

"It shall be the duty of every employer to prepare and as often as may be appropriate revise a written statement of his general policy with respect to the health and safety at work of his employees."

Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, Section 2(3)
The Three Parts of a Valid Policy
What HSE Expects to See

HSE guidance specifies that a valid written H&S policy must contain three distinct parts:


1. Statement of Intent
A clear commitment to managing H&S, signed by the most senior person in the business.


2. Organisation
Who is responsible for what — named individuals, their roles, and how H&S is managed day-to-day.


3. Arrangements
How the business controls its specific hazards — topic by topic, covering risk assessment, COSHH, manual handling, working at height, fire safety, PPE, lone working, and more.


A generic policy downloaded online typically fails on the Arrangements section — it doesn't reflect your actual hazards or your actual business.

What AB SiteSafe Does Differently
Built Around Your Hazards

We don't send you a template to fill in. We ask about your business, your team, and your significant hazards — then write a policy that reflects what you actually do. The Arrangements section covers the topics that are relevant to your trade, with wording specific to how your business operates.

Who Needs an H&S Policy?

Any employer with five or more employees is legally required to have one. Smaller businesses increasingly need one to win contracts, satisfy insurance requirements, or demonstrate compliance during inspections.

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Plumbing & Heating
  • Hot works and gas safety arrangements
  • Working at height (loft, roof access)
  • Manual handling (boilers, cylinders)
  • COSHH (flux, solvents, inhibitors)
  • Lone working and vehicle safety
Electrical Contractors
  • Electrical safety and live working rules
  • Test equipment calibration and PAT
  • Working at height and in confined spaces
  • Permit-to-work arrangements
  • Subcontractor management
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Cleaning Businesses
  • COSHH and chemical handling
  • Slips and trips in wet environments
  • Lone working (early/late shifts)
  • Manual handling (equipment, mops)
  • Client premises access and security
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Landscaping & Grounds
  • Plant and machinery operation
  • Pesticide and herbicide handling
  • Noise and vibration (chainsaws)
  • Manual handling and musculoskeletal
  • Weather and outdoor environment
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Painters & Decorators
  • Working at height (ladders, scaffolds)
  • COSHH (solvents, paints, dust)
  • Electrical equipment safety
  • Client property protection
  • Lone working in domestic premises
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Beauty & Aesthetics
  • COSHH (chemicals, sterilising agents)
  • Needlestick and infection control
  • Electrical equipment (UV, tools)
  • Lone working out-of-hours
  • Customer/client welfare
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Not sure whether your business needs a written policy? If you employ five or more people — you must have one by law. If you're below that threshold, a policy is still strongly recommended and often requested by clients, insurance providers, or when tendering for contracts. Contact us for a free assessment of what you need.

What's Included

Statement of Intent — Director-Signed A clear, professional commitment to health and safety signed by the employer or most senior person in the business.
Organisation & Responsibilities Named individuals and their H&S responsibilities — employer, senior operatives, employees, subcontractors, and any external H&S adviser.
Arrangements — Topic-by-Topic Every significant hazard area covered: risk assessment, COSHH, manual handling, working at height, fire safety, lone working, training & competence, employee consultation, monitoring & review, and more — all specific to your trade and referencing the relevant legislation.
Significant Hazards Register A clear list of the hazards significant to your business — cross-referenced to your arrangements and risk assessments.
Document Review & Sign-Off Employer sign-off with date, review date, and a review history table — so your policy stays current and auditable over time.
Print-Ready PDF Professional, clearly formatted, and ready to file, share with employees, or present to any inspector, insurer, or client requesting evidence of your H&S management.
Written for Your Business

The Arrangements section is where most generic policies fail. A downloaded template will list topics like "working at height" and "COSHH" — but the wording will be generic. It won't say which products your business uses, which tasks create the risk, or what specific controls are in place.

We write your arrangements based on your actual trade, your actual hazards, and your actual team structure. A plumbing company's arrangements look different to a cleaning company's — and they should.

That specificity is what makes your policy legally defensible, and what makes it meaningful to your employees rather than just a document filed in a drawer.

Trade-specific HSWA 1974 s2(3) Three-part structure Named responsibilities HSE-aligned
⚡ Standard turnaround: 48–72 hours from information received

Straightforward Pricing

Priced by business size and complexity. You know the cost before we start.

Standard

H&S Policy

Sole trader to small team — up to 10 employees, single trade or activity

£75from — small business
Statement of Intent (director-signed)
Organisation & responsibilities table
Arrangements section — up to 10 topics
Significant hazards register
Named responsible persons
Document review history table
Annual review date set
Print-ready PDF delivered
Larger businesses / multi-site
from £120
Businesses with 10+ employees, multiple trade activities, or multi-site operations are quoted individually — typically £120–£200 depending on complexity.
Compliance Starter Pack
£140 one-off

H&S Policy + Risk Assessment. Everything most small businesses need to be legally compliant in a single package — ready to file and present to clients.

Monthly Retainer
from £150 /month

Ongoing compliance support — 3 documents per month. Policy updates, new risk assessments, and COSHH assessments as your business evolves.

What a Completed Policy Looks Like

Below is a portfolio sample H&S Policy produced for a plumbing and heating contractor. This is a fictional sample document. Format, structure, and content are representative of every policy we produce.

Portfolio Sample — Plumbing & Heating
PARKER PLUMBING & HEATING LTD
7 Oakwood Drive, Coalville, Leicestershire LE67 4HN
Document Type
Health & Safety Policy
Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, Section 2(3)
Reference No.
HSP-PPH-001
Issue Date
January 2026
Review Date
January 2027
Prepared by
AB SiteSafe
Version
1.0
1
Statement of Intent
Signed commitment from the employer
Parker Plumbing & Heating Ltd is committed to ensuring, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of all employees, subcontractors, clients, and members of the public who may be affected by our work.

We accept our legal duties under the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999. This policy sets out how we manage health and safety within our business and will be reviewed annually or following any significant change, incident, or near-miss.

Every member of our team has a responsibility to work safely, follow the arrangements set out in this policy, and report any concerns without delay.
SignedSteven Parker — Director
DateJanuary 2026
2
Organisation & Responsibilities
Who is responsible for what
Role Person(s) Key H&S Responsibilities
Employer / Director Steven Parker Overall responsibility for H&S policy. Ensuring suitable and sufficient risk assessments are in place. Providing safe plant, equipment, and systems of work. Arranging appropriate training.
External H&S Adviser AB SiteSafe (Alexander Banister) Providing competent H&S advice. Producing and reviewing risk assessments, COSHH assessments, and this policy. Available for HSE-related queries and incident support.
Senior Operative David Yates Day-to-day supervision of operatives on site. Checking PPE is worn and controls are in place. Reporting hazards, incidents, and near-misses to the Director.
All Employees All staff Cooperating with the employer's H&S arrangements. Using equipment and PPE correctly. Reporting hazards, injuries, and near-misses immediately. Not putting themselves or others at risk.
Subcontractors As engaged Compliance with this policy while on company premises or carrying out work on behalf of Parker Plumbing & Heating Ltd. Must hold their own relevant risk assessments and insurance.
3
Arrangements
How we control significant hazards — topic by topic
Risk Assessment
MHSWR 1999 Reg 3
Suitable and sufficient risk assessments are carried out for all significant activities before work begins. Assessments are documented, communicated to relevant workers, and reviewed annually or following any change in task, environment, or following an incident. AB SiteSafe is appointed to assist with the preparation and review of all risk assessments.
COSHH
COSHH Regs 2002
COSHH assessments are in place for all hazardous substances used, including flux, pipe jointing compounds, and inhibitors. Safety Data Sheets are obtained for all products before use. Employees are informed of hazards, controls, and emergency procedures relevant to each substance. PPE is provided where required.
Manual Handling
MHO Regs 1992
Manual handling tasks — including carrying boilers, cylinders, and pipe runs — are assessed. Mechanical aids are used where possible. Employees are trained in correct lifting technique and instructed to seek assistance for loads above 25 kg or where awkward posture is required.
Working at Height
WAH Regs 2005
Work at height is avoided wherever practicable. Where it cannot be avoided, suitable access equipment (stepladders, platform steps, MEWPs) is selected and inspected before use. No work is carried out at height from unsuitable surfaces. Equipment is maintained and stored correctly between uses.
Fire Safety & Hot Works
RRFSO 2005
Hot works (soldering, brazing) require a hot works permit in commercial premises. A fire extinguisher is carried and accessible. A 30-minute standby period is observed after hot works completion. Combustible materials are cleared from the area before commencing any flame or heat-generating activity.
Lone Working
MHSWR 1999
Lone working in domestic and commercial premises is risk assessed. Operatives share their location and working hours with the Director before starting. Twice-daily check-in procedure. Charged mobile phone carried at all times. Out-of-hours work requires explicit Director awareness and contact arrangement.
Training & Competence
MHSWR 1999 Reg 13 · HSWA s.2(2)(c)
No employee is permitted to undertake work for which they are not adequately trained and competent. Training needs are assessed at induction and reviewed annually. Where statutory qualifications are required (e.g. Gas Safe, Electrical), only current certificate holders carry out that work. Training records are maintained by the Director and available for inspection.
Employee Consultation
SRSCR 1996
Employees are consulted on health and safety matters that affect them, including changes to work activities, new risk assessments, and proposed changes to procedures. Consultation takes place through regular toolbox talks and direct discussion. All employees are encouraged to raise H&S concerns without fear of reprisal. Concerns are recorded and acted upon.
Monitoring & Review
MHSWR 1999 Reg 5 · HSG65
H&S performance is monitored through periodic workplace inspections, review of all incidents and near-misses, and feedback from employees. This policy is reviewed annually and following any significant incident, change in legislation, or material change to business activities. AB SiteSafe (external H&S adviser) assists with annual review and document updates.
+ 5 further arrangements included in the full policy: First Aid · Accident Reporting (RIDDOR) · PPE · Asbestos Awareness · Contractor Management
4
Significant Hazards Register
Hazards relevant to this business — cross-referenced to Section 3 Arrangements
Manual handling
COSHH — chemicals
Driving for work
Lone working
Hot works (gas / flame)
Asbestos awareness
Slips, trips & falls
Fire safety
Working at height
Confined spaces
Noise & vibration
Electrical (HV works)
5
Document Review & Sign-Off
Role Full Name Position Date
Prepared by Alexander Banister H&S Consultant — AB SiteSafe | IOSH Managing Safely | NEBOSH NGC (In Progress) January 2026
Employer Sign-Off Steven Parker Director — Parker Plumbing & Heating Ltd January 2026
Version Date Reviewed by Changes Made
1.0 January 2026 Alexander Banister / Steven Parker Initial issue
1.1 Due Jan 2027 Annual review due
Portfolio sample document — Parker Plumbing & Heating Ltd is a fictional client for demonstration purposes. Format, structure, and content are identical to every H&S Policy produced by AB SiteSafe.
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Parker Plumbing & Heating Ltd is a fictional company created for portfolio purposes — not a real client. The format, structure, and content are fully representative of every policy we produce. The full policy includes all arrangement topics relevant to your specific trade — a cleaning company's policy looks different to a plumber's, and both look different to a beauty salon's. Contact us to discuss what your policy should cover.

Ready to Get Your Policy Written?

How it Works

Getting your H&S policy written is straightforward. We gather the information we need, write the policy around your business, and deliver a document you can sign and use the same week.

1

Tell us about your business — your trade, team size, main activities, and any specific hazards you work with.

2

We draft the full policy — statement of intent, named responsibilities, and topic-specific arrangements tailored to your work.

3

Delivered within 48–72 hours as a PDF ready to sign, file, and share with your team — or submit to a client requesting it.

4

One revision round included — if anything needs adjusting before you sign, we update it at no extra cost.

Request an H&S Policy

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First conversation always free — no obligation.