If you want a safer workplace that supports performance and wellbeing, your policy is the foundation. A clear health and safety policy gives leaders and teams a shared playbook for how you manage risk, respond to incidents, and build a culture that protects both physical and psychological health. It is also one of the simplest ways to improve clarity, trust, and accountability across your business.
In this guide, we break down what a strong policy looks like, why it matters for compliance and culture, common pitfalls to avoid, and provide a copy ready health and safety policy sample you can adapt to your organisation.
What is A Health And Safety Policy?
A health and safety policy sets out your organisation’s commitment and approach to keeping people safe at work. It explains responsibilities, hazard management, consultation, training, reporting, emergency readiness, and how you protect psychological safety alongside physical safety. In Australia, this aligns with duties under the model WHS laws led by Safe Work Australia, where persons conducting a business or undertaking must ensure health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable. See the overview of model WHS laws from Safe Work Australia.
Why it Matters
A clear policy reduces incident risk, improves decision making, and signals that safety is non negotiable. It supports compliance with standards such as ISO 45001 and helps you address psychosocial hazards like high job demands, low control, and poor support, which are covered in the national guidance on psychosocial hazards.
From a performance perspective, a strong policy builds psychological safety, which lifts communication, learning, and engagement. Explore how safety and wellbeing intersect in our article Safe At Work Employee Wellbeing and the leadership drivers in Building Psychological Safety Through Leadership.
Common Barriers
- Policies that are long or full of jargon which people do not read or use
- Unclear responsibilities that create gaps between leaders and workers
- Policies that ignore psychosocial risks or mental health
- Limited training and consultation so the policy never becomes daily practice
The good news is you do not need to overhaul everything. Start with a simple, clear policy, then embed it through training, feedback, and regular review.
Health And Safety Policy Sample
Use the following health and safety policy sample as a starting point. Adapt to your risk profile and consult your people and HSRs. This sample supports compliance with Australian WHS principles and can align to ISO 45001.
Title
[Company Name] Health And Safety Policy
Purpose
We are committed to providing a healthy and safe workplace for workers, contractors, volunteers, and visitors. This policy outlines our approach to preventing injury and illness, managing risk, and fostering a culture where safety and wellbeing are part of how we work every day.
Scope
This policy applies to all work activities and all workers at [Company Name] including employees, contractors, labour hire, volunteers, and visitors across all locations and remote work settings.
Our Commitments
- Comply with applicable WHS laws, regulations, and standards
- Eliminate hazards and reduce risks so far as is reasonably practicable
- Consult with workers and their representatives on matters that affect health and safety
- Provide information, instruction, training, and supervision needed to work safely
- Prevent and manage psychosocial risks and support mental health
- Continuously improve our safety management system and performance
Roles And Responsibilities
- Officers: Exercise due diligence by ensuring resources, processes, and assurance for WHS
- Leaders and Managers: Model safe behaviours, implement this policy, manage risks, and consult workers
- Workers: Take reasonable care for their own health and safety, follow instructions, report hazards and incidents, and participate in consultation and training
- Contractors And Suppliers: Meet our safety requirements and cooperate with site rules
Risk Management
- Identify hazards across physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, and psychosocial domains
- Assess risks using a consistent method and consider likelihood and consequence
- Control risks using the hierarchy of control with preference for elimination and engineering controls
- Review controls for effectiveness and adjust as work changes
Psychosocial Safety And Wellbeing
- Design work to balance demands, control, and support
- Set realistic workloads and role clarity
- Prevent bullying, harassment, and discrimination
- Provide access to support services and reasonable adjustments
- Build a culture of respect, inclusion, and learning
Consultation And Communication
- Engage workers and HSRs in decisions about safety
- Share clear information about risks, controls, and changes to work
- Invite suggestions and feedback to improve safety
Training And Competence
- Provide induction and role specific training
- Maintain competence records and refreshers
- Coach leaders to support safe work practices and wellbeing
Incident Reporting And Investigation
- Report all incidents, hazards, and near misses promptly
- Investigate to find causes and prevent recurrence
- Notify regulators when required
Emergency Preparedness
- Maintain emergency plans, equipment, and trained personnel
- Conduct regular drills and reviews
Monitoring And Continuous Improvement
- Set objectives and targets for safety performance
- Measure lead and lag indicators, audit regularly, and publish findings
- Review this policy annually or when work changes
Responsibilities For Remote And Hybrid Work
- Provide guidance on ergonomic setups and safe remote work practices
- Manage risks related to isolation, hours, and communication
Related Documents
WHS Risk Management Procedure, Incident Management Procedure, Consultation Procedure, Emergency Plan, Code of Conduct, Remote Work Procedure
Approval
Signed by [Managing Director or CEO] on [Date]
If you want to see a real world example of embedding safety with wellbeing, see our Turosi Health And Safety Case Study.
How To Craft An Effective Policy That People Use
Make it short and clear
Keep the policy to a few pages and move detailed steps into procedures. Use plain language and clear headings so people can find what they need fast.
Anchor it to risk
Link each commitment to real risks in your business and outline how controls will be applied. This makes the policy meaningful and audit ready.
Include psychosocial risks
Address work design, workload, and behaviour. Align to national guidance on psychosocial hazards and support mental health.
Co design with your people
Consult workers, HSRs, and leaders. Test the policy with frontline teams and refine based on feedback. This increases adoption and compliance.
Train leaders to embed it
Equip managers to model safe behaviours, run effective risk conversations, and respond to issues early. Consider ambassador style programs that influence culture, as outlined in Wellbeing Ambassador Programs For Safety Professionals.
Measure what matters
Track lead indicators like hazard reports, training completion, and psychosocial risk feedback alongside incident rates.
What Can Employers Do?
- Set the tone: Have the CEO personally endorse the policy and link it to company values
- Resource the plan: Fund risk controls, training, and leadership capability
- Make it easy: Centralise documents, provide templates, and keep forms simple
- Build capability: Train leaders in psychological safety and early intervention
- Create feedback loops: Regularly consult HSRs and teams and publish actions taken
- Link to performance: Recognise teams that improve safety and wellbeing outcomes
If you need expert support to co design, train, and embed, Better Being partners with organisations to integrate safety and wellbeing into daily performance. Get in touch with us.
Key Takeaways
- A practical health and safety policy sample helps you set clear expectations and meet Australian WHS duties
- Include psychosocial risks and leadership behaviours to protect mental health and culture
- Keep the policy concise, consult widely, and move details into procedures and training
- Measure lead indicators and close the loop with visible improvements
- Better Being can help you embed safety and wellbeing through leadership coaching and programs
If you are ready to strengthen your safety culture, get in touch with Better Being.
