Welcome Guest! The IOSH forums are a free resource to both members and non-members. Login or register to use them

Postings made by forum users are personal opinions. IOSH is not responsible for the content or accuracy of any of the information contained in forum postings. Please carefully consider any advice you receive.

Notification

Icon
Error

Options
Go to last post Go to first unread
Sophie.J  
#1 Posted : 12 February 2021 11:23:06(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
Sophie.J

Hi,

I got told recently that all workplace Policies whether HR, H&S etc require a signature.

The Health & Safety Policy requires a signature and this is in place, likewise HR Policies on Equality, Disciplinary etc - but i was unaware that all Policies needed to be signed.

Can anyone please clarify?

Thank you, 

Sophie

A Kurdziel  
#2 Posted : 12 February 2021 12:00:56(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
A Kurdziel

There is no legal requirement for this, but it is good practice in that it shows that the policy is endorsed by senior management. If  I see a policy document and with no signature or name it makes me suspect that it does really have the backing of the people on top.     Ideally something like the H&S policy(by which I mean the short 1 page statement endorsing health and safety as a policy objective in the organisation) should be signed by the CEO or equivalent. If it’s just  signed by the H&S bod I think it just window dressing. It also needs a review date of the same reason.

hopeful  
#3 Posted : 12 February 2021 13:30:56(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
hopeful

Policies should be signed as good practice and certain standards require them to be reviewed annually. Therefore I have one H&S Policy Statement of 1 page which is signed by our Chair and CEO Equivalent and we review this annually. There is an Orgainsation and Arrangements document to support and then all other documents we call Standards or Procedures and are approved via our H&S Committee structure. Otherwise I would be tying up senior managers in approving documents and signing them which would degrade our engagement with them. We manage the knowledge in other ways.

thanks 2 users thanked hopeful for this useful post.
A Kurdziel on 12/02/2021(UTC), CptBeaky on 15/02/2021(UTC)
Users browsing this topic
Guest
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.