Rank: Forum user 
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I've often wondered what this means.
Is it a set of local procedures above and beyond the requirements of the Regs? Is it decided by some learned body or other?
Can anyone give me an example of best practice with relations to the Regs, ACoPs and Guidance please?
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Rank: Super forum user
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Best Practice is a much misused term as it implies that there has been benchmarking undertaken and the practice(s) are have been verified as the "best" by some form of peer review.
It may be possible to compile some best practices which in most cases go beyond minimum legal requirements. Some may include aspects covered by HSE ACoPs & Guidance.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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A way of doing things that experience tells you, or has told others, is the most effective way to do things?
The law often simply specifies what you have to do. You are left to decide how to meet those duties.
Best practice provides access to the learnt experience of others. (e.g law says reduce manual handling but best practice can demonstrate a proven approach and solution to your specific situation.)
It shouldn't ever mean 'gold plating' for the sake of it.
p48
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Rank: Forum user
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Best practice is what top firms in your industry do.
Also what is written up in SHP and like publications and approved by others.
You can ask on this forum what is best practice in a given situation and see what your peers think and draw a conclusion from that.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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DavidBrede wrote:Best practice is what top firms in your industry do.
I quick look at who has been up in court in the past few years blows that statement out of the water.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Best practice is a general term where the definition is contextual. As an example, a 'Duty of Care' - it has many different meanings to different people.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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OK, examples of what I consider best practice, though not exactly from H&S law as such:
No mobile while mobile - the law does not ban hands-free calls, but many employers do as it is considered best practice. Banning hand-held calls is of course simple legal compliance.
Zero-alcohol policies for drivers; in England and Wales at least it is possible to have a drink, say a small glass of wine or a pint of normal strength bitter and probably be under the limit. Many employers however ban all alcohol while driving - rightly so in my view, I never drink and drive, never have done. Of course alcohol is banned for train drivers.
In our smaller charity shops we fit mains powered interlinked smoke detectors, when we could get away with domestic style types, I think this is best practice.
Best practice is, in my view, applying risk analysis to legal requirements; you can never do less than the law requires, but risk assessment can lead to you doing more,
John
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Rank: Forum user
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Thanks everyone. You've given me some ideas.
I like Jay's answer the best - Best Practice in H&S is something we can take from a networking contact, or another site within our organisation, or a learned body which provides a solution to some challenge above and beyond that which is required by the Regs, ACoPs and Guidance.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Surprised no one has provided HSE references.
According to http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/theory/alarp2.htm
"Good practice is the generic term for those standards for controlling risk which have been judged and recognised by HSE as satisfying the law when applied to a particular relevant case in an appropriate manner." Good practice can be distinguished from the term "best practice which usually means a standard of risk control above the legal minimum."
HSE has published Defining best practice in corporate occupational health and safety governance
http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr506.pdf
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Rank: Super forum user
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The first definition I found is "commercial or professional procedures that are accepted or prescribed as being correct or most effective". Isn't that just good practice? Call me pedantic . .
Or we can have "A method or technique that has consistently shown results superior to those achieved with other means, and that is used as a benchmark". Now we're talking! So how do you actually measure to affirm these superior results? Easy enough in widget manufacturing . . .
It's a term we like to use, to 'big-up' H&S, and of course it leads to goldplating. Why wouldn't it, unless aligned with a particular non-regulated aspect; as in the HSE research report - "best practice in corporate H&S governance". Very specific.
What is 'best' for one organisation / situation may be unjustifiable for another.
I see the expression as it is frequently used, being interchangeable with 'organisational policy' - as some have described. It just sounds more grandiose to say "best practice" rather than 'our policy standard'.
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Rank: Super forum user
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There are many words and phrases which drool off people's tongues in today's business world. As an example - synergy, blue sky thinking, joined up thinking (politicians love this one), look under the bonnet, get all your ducks lined up in row, etc.
Personally I am discombobulated - LOL.
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