Posted By Katiem Hi there folks, I'm putting a report together and I want to include the definition above. This is not in respect to what is already laid out in terms of ACOPS vs Guidance etc, but rather with reference to Company Policies and Procedures. I'm responsibily for overseeing review and revision of all our health and safety policies. Now as I see it a policy is the companies legal document, an ethos statement etc... We are a large organisation with social work projects and services working independently. My issue is trying to stop other services that work remotely to HQ writing there own "policies" (which technically I would see as procedures or protocols) Is there anything out there I can use to help evidence and define this nomenclature so I can stop people write stuff on their own. The last thing I want is for some sort or audit or inspection to take place and say the a particular policy is requested and what's handed over isn't the Company's policy but some "policy" that has been written locally...... Document Control eh! Thanks all again. Is there anyone else in a similar position? Best Regards

Posted By Hilary Charlton I produce EH&S Policies but also have a hand in the Quality System. In order to ensure that only original copies are available, these are typed, signed and printed out on white paper. They are subsequently copied in however many copies are required on to special paper with a coloured logo which is used only by the Quality/EH&S department and which is closely guarded. This ensures that the only copies that are original are those on this specific paper and they are instantly identifiable. Hope this gives you some ideas on the way to go. Hilary

Posted By Katiem Thanks for this folks, really helpful information. I think that often those not in health and safety (or quality) don't realise how important document control is. Many thanks. Kind Regards

Posted By Helen Horton You might find the definitions as given in HSG65 useful but they are too long to reproduce here but you can find them on the HSE website. Remember that you should include provision of monitoring and management review if you are writing a report about management of H&S, particularly in relation to management systems. Always include checks on document cotnrol in active monitoring regimes otherwise the information you gather will be useless rubbish.