Posted By Francis MSc MIOSH RSP Hi all, I am looking at revamping our safety policies- eg on lone working... - anyone any suggestions on "best practice" as to the headings that I should be including IN GENERAL?- eg what laws involved, who it will effect etc... Thanks

Posted By J Knight Hi Francis, To my way of thinking best practice is going to vary from company to company. For example here we intend Policy to mean a short statement on the organisations aims and objectives, preceded by something which ties it into the organisation's overall objectives. So for example, for Lone working we might say that 'Sue Ryder Care aims to safeguard the health etc etc etc', and then run on to say that procedures will be in place to control risks from lone working, with a short definition of the hazard(s) being addressed. Duty holders would be next, with a very brief statement of respective duties; then a short piece on how it ties in to other policies, and then the laws would come as references. the whole might be 2 pages of A4. The arrangements are issued as advice and guidance for use by duty holders. Whether this is best practice or not I don't know, but I like it as it means that you can read our policy on any given H&S objective in two minutes, and if you have a need to know how we aim to achieve the policy objectives you can find out, but if you don't you aren't presented with a thirty page tome covering every eventuality, John

Posted By D. Hilton Truly unbelievable

Posted By Paul Oliver Why don't you look at your CPD folder and use some of the information / evidence you have amassed within it, in order to gain RSP. :-) This is definitely a Wind Up

Posted By Jim Walker He exists - I have met him. And he is what he says he is. I am sort of hoping someone has stolen his "name" as I have seen several postings recently I could not believe he was making.

Posted By Fran Holt nothing wrong with throwing it to the floor for new ideas

Posted By Charley Farley-Trelawney My original retort was removed, the email I received from the mods suggested I had made a personal attack, this was not the case and if I caused offence to the thread poster then I apologise, however; I wish it had been posted on April 1st, the joke may well have been on the responders, as it wasn't......... I still remain.... confused. Charles

Posted By Geoff Burt Hi Charley, if it's any consolation I read your posting and I didn't see anything offensive in it. Moderators, could you advise when your rules changed. I was told by Arran not more that 3 months ago that single messages were not removed - it was the whole thread or nothing?

Posted By Jack I think some of you are being a trifle hard on Francis and as Heather said have misinterpreted the question. Go to virtually any organisation and look at the policy and you will find some of the most turgid stuff you've ever read (and I'm not excluding my organisation). You'd never believe the writer had any intention of communicating anything to employees. Most of this must surely have been written by RSPs. Francis should be congratulated for asking his peers about 'best practice'. He has surely recognised that the standard stuff we all churn out is not working and is looking for inspiration. His reference to 'what laws etc' does though make me fear he's not going to be very radical.

Posted By Paul Oliver HURRAH!