The most successful companies and organisations recognise that there is a link between the identification and control of risk, the general health of their staff and the success of their business; and as such will develop their health and safety management systems as an integral part of their operational organisation.

Your system should reflect the way that you operate and contain policies and procedures that are concise and functional, not wordy and confusing. It should contain evidence that you are being proactive in your approach to health and safety in your workplace i.e. audits and inspections, risk assessments and reviews, and staff training records; and supported by your Health and Safety Plan for the current year detailing how you will manage health and safety and implement necessary changes and control measures. It does not need to comply with any external certification standards unless you are contractually obliged, or wish to do so.

The Health and Safety Executive now favour a Plan, Do, Check, Act approach to management as it achieves a balance between the systems and the behavioural aspects which determine how your staff will respond to changes in their working environment, the learning of new skills and their compliance with rules and regulations.