TABLE OF CONTENTS Regardless of the type of organisation, its activities and the specific management issues that it faces, clear unequivocal policies relating to general health and safety matters as well as fire safety matters are needed in order to establish effective organisational control of its activities. Management policies that organisations implement are likely to include those for: quality, environmental, safety, equality and fairness. Many of these policies are required to enable an organisation to comply with the law.
A policy is the basis of an organisation s management strategy; providing direction, enabling it to organise, plan, set targets and implement its organisational objectives. However, a policy in itself cannot be effective unless the words are turned into actions.
When managing fire safety (in common with managing all health and safety issues) it is vital that a clear and effective management system is developed and implemented. The model provided by the HSE in the guidance document HSG65 Effective Health and Safety Management recommends that the first step to effective management is to have effective policy, a policy that sets the aspirations and direction for an organisation.
As has been explained in the previous notes a key feature of any safety management system will be the preparation and implementation of a policy if an organisation is to effectively manage its safety obligations.
The law establishes a minimum standard for the requirements of any health and safety policy. Section 2(3) of the HSWA requires...
