Posted By jim kelleher
Hi,
I am writing an employee safety handbook and would like some advise on the content if possible.
I have included the legal stuff that you would expect to see in a manual (policy statement, law poster information, who does what etc. I have then tried to include information that is relevent to the nature of our business. The problem i seem to be having is "too much information" existing staff will make more sense of the handbook as they will understand it a bit more due to being more familiar with the workplace and the relevent hazards.
But the handbook will be given to new starters on induction aswell. The aim of the hanbook is to relay necessary information to all employees about the do's and don'ts in relation to health and safety in the workplace.I have tried to keep it as simple as possible but as you all know sometimes health and safety is'nt that simple.
Has anyone got any views or ideas on this subject?? The main aim obviously is to ensure that employees receive the right health and safety information from the beginning.
Thanks
Jim.

Posted By Merv Newman
Whatever your "employee safety handbook" is, there are two aspects to cover. First (usually) comes the legally required content. This is usually written in "lawyer speak" so as to cover the corporate bum in case of problems. can run to 20 or 30 pages. which employees do not read beyond para 1.

The second, often forgotten, is the part that MUST be read and understood by employees. Must be written in language and vocabulary understandable by those who seldom get beyond page 3.

It's no use talking "Guardian" if you only have "Sun" readers.

"Well yeah, me'lud, I read it, but no one told me wot it meant"

Apologies if you think I'm being "elitist" here (no longer a guardian reader, more The Times) but speaking from practical experience. OK ?

Merv

Posted By garyh
It is difficult to keep such a book up to date - you need to keep it up to date with changes in regs - nowadays that's almost impossible!

I wouldn't kid yourself that people actually read them! Generally you give them out, people sign for them, and rarely read them. They are only any good if given out as the climax of a training session, in my opinion. On their own - of debatable value.

In my experience if people have a query, they tend to ask their supervisors or the safety bod, not look in the book.