OH&S policy
Plain-language summary
A short top-level statement, signed by leadership, committing the business to safe working, legal compliance, worker consultation and continual improvement.
What the clause is really asking
The policy is leadership's public promise about safety and the anchor everything else hangs from. It must commit to providing safe and healthy conditions, eliminating hazards and reducing risk, meeting legal requirements, consulting workers, and improving over time. The intent is a clear, honest statement that workers understand and that drives real objectives, not a framed poster nobody reads.
What auditors look for
Auditors check the policy contains the required commitments and then test whether workers actually know what it means for them. They ask a few operators what the policy commits the company to, looking past memorised wording for genuine understanding. They also trace whether objectives and behaviour line up with the promises made.
Typical evidence
Signed and dated OH&S policy; evidence of communication such as displays, inductions and toolbox talks; worker awareness during interviews; objectives traceable to policy commitments.
How to comply — recommendations
Keep the policy short and in plain language so a new operator can grasp it, and have top management sign and date it. Make sure it covers the required commitments including consulting workers and eliminating hazards. Communicate it through induction and toolbox talks rather than relying on a wall poster, and make sure your objectives clearly flow from it.
Common nonconformities
Policy missing required commitments such as worker consultation or hazard elimination; workers unaware of what it means; policy not signed, dated or controlled; no link between the policy and actual objectives.
Related clauses
ISO 9001 5.2; ISO 14001 5.2
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