When Must a Health and Safety Policy Be Written Down?

### The Five-Employee Rule Under Section 2(3) of the **Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974**, where an employer has **five or more employees**, the written health and safety policy statement must be written down. This threshold applies specifically to the written *general health and safety policy*. It does not mean smaller businesses have no duties. ### Smaller Businesses Still Have Duties Businesses with fewer than five employees still must: * Ensure the health, safety and welfare of employees so far as is reasonably practicable * Carry out suitable and sufficient risk assessments * Appoint a competent person under Regulation 7 * Provide information, instruction and training ### Policy Structure A robust health and safety policy has three parts: 1. **Statement of intent** — the organisation's commitment to health and safety 2. **Organisation** — who is responsible for what 3. **Arrangements** — the practical systems and procedures for managing risk A policy should describe your actual business — not someone else's generic template.