Rank: Forum user 
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Just a quick question... in our workplace the company director signs the HSE policy, but we have not asked him to sign the manual. This has been queried internally.
What's your thoughts on this? Should the director also sign the manual?
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Rank: Forum user
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or to follow on: Is our HSE manager putting himself at risk, by not having the director sign the manual?
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Rank: Super forum user
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In short 'no' - there is no legal requirement to sign the manual or as a matter of fact risk assessments etc.
People do get fixated on signing things.
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Rank: Super forum user
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In my view- yes.
I have just done a manual with two signatories. Me as the person who prepared it and the CEO who will authorise it.
Andy
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Rank: Super forum user
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CdC wrote:or to follow on: Is our HSE manager putting himself at risk, by not having the director sign the manual?
No- he isn't. As Ian states there is no legal requirement for anyone to sign it.
I'm hoping that the signature of the CEO will add weight and show commitment from the top. Time will tell...
Andy
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Rank: Super forum user 
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You've done well to get the policy signed :)
If the manual is specified under the policy it shouldn't need another high level signature, are you lucky enough to have signed statement of intent posters with the directors picture and signature??
S
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Rank: Forum user
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SNS wrote:You've done well to get the policy signed :)
If the manual is specified under the policy it shouldn't need another high level signature, are you lucky enough to have signed statement of intent posters with the directors picture and signature??
S
Thank you for all your replies. Our HSE policy does indeed have his picture and signature on it, as well as that of our group wide CEO.
The manual isn't specified on the policy as such. But to be honest in real life, our director signing the manual won't improve management commitment to HSE much. What's making an impact is our director seen to speak about safety, reward good behaviours and lead by example. Not sure how much value this signature would add.... this has come however from a quality person who has been in the field for a long time, so may be used to different methodologies of obtaining authorisation?
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Rank: Super forum user
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Quote:What's making an impact is our director seen to speak about safety, reward good behaviours and lead by example. Not sure how much value this signature would add.... this has come however from a quality person who has been in the field for a long time, so may be used to different methodologies of obtaining authorisation?
I agree with you. You would be far more at risk if your Director wasn't speaking, rewarding and leading as you describe than if his signature wasn't on your manual. Put it here by all means, but don't lose any sleep over it, and if any auditor were to investigate your top management commitment by focusing on what the documents look like while ignoring the good leadership that's actually happening (well done your Director!), well... I'd be questioning whether that auditor was actually helping your business.
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Rank: Super forum user
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I see a manual as living document that is will need to be continuously updated as the systems develop. Will you get the CEO to sign each and every update? Or is the manual just intend to be one of those sacred relics that is only taken out when the auditors visit, when it is dusted off and shown to the faithful.
signing a general policy makes sense; not so sure about a H&S manual.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I have the safety policy at the front of the manual, the senior director signs the policy.
2 birds with one signature.
The whole document is reviewed/revised every year and he signs the policy at the front of the revised document.
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