Safety policy

The starting point for a good safety culture is a commitment on the part of management. This is best expressed by the setting of a safety policy, endorsed by the board of directors. A safety policy should state the organisation’s aims for achieving safety. The safety policy statements should define the fundamental approach to managing safety within the organisation. They should encompass both process and product safety issues. It is up to each individual organisation to define their own set of safety policy statements, according to the nature of their business. However, the safety policy statements should cover the following issues:

• confirmation that safety is a primary goal for the organisation;

• definition of management’s responsibility and accountability for safety performance;

• the responsibility of everyone in the organisation for ensuring safety;

• the provision of assurance that products meet safety requirements;

• the continual improvement in safety within the organisation;

• compliance with regulations and standards; and

• taking all reasonable steps to reduce risk. Absolute safety cannot be guaranteed and attempting to achieve it can distort the allocation of resources, so safety should be balanced against other factors. This means that:

• although safety should be a primary goal, it is not the only goal;

• pursuit of safety at all costs is not advisable; and

• judgement is required to know when to stop trying to reduce risk. By defining the safety policy statements, ensuring that they are effectively implemented, and monitoring their effect on safety and on the organisation, it is possible to encourage and develop a good safety culture. Setting safety policy statements alone is not enough.

Management should nurture and encourage good safety practices, monitor safety, and provide the necessary resources.