It's isn;t the brevity that bothers me mate- it's the fact they feel its a priority at all. The volume of useless documentation building up at HSE must be getting a bit claustrophobic by now. When I look at where we are in 2012 with H&S legislation and all the flotsam that's become trapped in its orbit, I want to go back to the late Alf Robens and say to him, ...'is this really what you had in mind'?

I'll be honest and say I also get confused. I have seen so many different interpretations of H and S policies from a few pages to thick handbooks/manuals/procedures but they get pushed through as their H and S policy. Is there a definitive style of H and S Policy or how much detail the Policy contains? Sections 1 and 2 don't seem to cause too many problems thought I have seen the org and responsibilities section go on for several pages. It is the arrangements section that seems to vary from company to company, not because of size and function of org, but due to the amount of detail which I believe might be better cross referenced into procedures. Walker, I would love to know the secret in keeping your policy to that level of brevity - or am I doing something wrong?

If I am not mistaken this is the same document that has been on the website for a number of months, if not years to assist companies in developing a policy statement. I think there are no issues with it as a policy statement as long as it is supported by risk assessments and procedures as appropriate.

Ok its not the 'classic' policy format, however appears to cover the main areas.

The example states 'general policy and arrangements'. In my opinion there is not sufficient advice given about the need for detail in the 'arrangements' section of the overall policy. It was not so long ago the advice was clear. A Health and Safety Policy should have 3 sections - 1. A statement 2. Organisation 3. Arrangements or am I out of touch? I think this site needs updating.

What you are calling a "policy" are parts of the H&S management system Read HSG 65 - the box (key messages) on page 6 is all you need. The important bit are the 5 things that sit under the policy

boblewis - In response to your comment in #11 about the gap between policy makers and inspectors in HSE, my strong understanding from having been in HSE is that the people in the HSE policy sections/branches are inspectors with significant experience of 'front-line' inspection work and are posted into policy work. They tend to do such work for several years and then go back into inspection work, including the management of others. As their careers progress some inspectors may alternate between policy and inspection work, either because they ask to do so or are told to do it. Also some inspectors I've known have loathed being transferred to policy work and have itched to get back to 'real' work.

That hasn't been the case for a few years now - while there are still some inspectors in (mostly operational) policy, most are now admin grades, frequently from other government departments (that process accelerated significantly when they moved most of the policy functions to Bootle and a load of folk simply left). I'd agree there is now a significant split between the politically influenced policy parts and the front line inspection; which can lead to a very dysfunctional approach!

Needless to say, I agree with you Bob. The 'alternative view' posters here need to bear in mind that this is the advice that SME's will see, copy, and present to inspectors and with their pre-qualification questionnaires i.e. it's not about how good, or differently structured your organisation's documents are (and what particular brew of 'Policies' and 'Procedures' you've come up with), but that this is the advice from the HSE to those who don't know that it's not OK to just stop at one-page. If we take it as a 'Statement', then fine there should be more advice on how to complete a full policy. If it's the 'front-end' of a H&S Mgmt systems, then fine, there should be indications that further information should be put together. ...but neither of these are indicated. If we are to get Directors to acknowledge their responsibilities, it's maybe not the best start to let them think that their bit is to put together something this simple - then let the workforce put together the procedures. As I indicated earlier, my view is that even the act of putting together and reviewing a (fuller) H&S Policy has it's uses in raising Senior Managers' awareness of the risks the organisation has to control.