What is a Policy and Program?
A health and safety policy statement, signed by your company president and dated, should contain references to

• the importance of the health and safety of all employees
• compliance with health and safety legislation
• objectives of your health and safety program and the fact that the program activities are integrated into all functional operations
• the responsibilities of everyone in the workplace

Your health and safety program sets out your plan to back up your health and safety policy statement. It should include

• the responsibilities of everyone in your workplace to meet their health and safety obligations
• identification of functional responsibilities related to major functions within your company, including holding the appropriate managers accountable for
  

  policy setting allocating funds to implement the overall health and safety aspects of your operation having human resources identify the essential requirements for each job, assessing the physical demands of all jobs, and matching physical requirements of the work with the physical capabilities of the individuals performing the work having your purchasing department obtain health and safety information from suppliers, and including health and safety specifications when purchasing machinery, equipment and materials

• provisions for ensuring that your Joint Health and Safety Committee is compliant with the legislation
• a plan to assess working conditions, including periodic inspections
• a plan to assess and control hazards
• a plan for the provision and maintenance of any required personal protective equipment
• a plan to provide first aid facilities, including the required number of personnel trained in first aid
• communication to everyone in the workplace about your commitment, involvement, interest and concern about health and safety
• provision for providing information, instruction and supervision to protect the health and safety of your workers
• the establishment of standards for all your program activities and the measurement of performance against those standards

What the law says
Ontario’s Occupational Health & Safety Act (OHSA) requires employers to prepare, and review at least annually, a written occupational health and safety policy, and to develop and maintain a program to implement that policy [s.25(j)].

How having a policy and program can help your business
Workplace injuries and illnesses can be prevented. The key to achieving safe production is to identify and control all workplace health and safety hazards. Employee health and safety are integral to productivity. A management system that integrates health and safety activities into all aspects of your company’s operations will help achieve positive results in productivity, quality, and above all, the health and safety of your employees.

What you can do
Experience shows that the clearly demonstrated commitment of senior managers to workplace health and safety has a positive influence on employee attitudes. Your written policy, backed by a sound program, is a way to establish this commitment.