A well-planned and carefully implemented safety management policy is a great asset in preparing both physical and human resources and reducing financial losses and liabilities. By mapping and controlling the risks, each organisation is able to reach an improved performance in health and safety issues. That’s why it’s crucial to have a well-functioning safety management plan that complies with regulations.
Generally, every country has a law defining which kind of organisations are required to introduce their own safety plans. Often the need is defined by the size of the company. We recommend studying local legislation to make sure you comply with it.
It’s very natural that safety issues and possible deviations vary greatly between different industries. A big manufacturing site has very distinct safety issues in comparison to, let’s say, a downtown office. Locations with big footfall have different risks and important sites like main airports or railway stations have to consider other additional threats such as terrorism.
However, there are several safety features that are shared by all organisations and industries. The goal is the same: to have safety procedures that keep the people safe and simultaneously support the business operations.
The safety management plan should be reviewed and updated frequently or whenever there’s a change in safety procedures or in governmental regulations. It’s also important to make sure that the plan is not only available to all employees but that they are all actually familiar with the instructions. If an incident happens, it’s too late to start looking for a safety manual, but the people are expected to know what to do and whom to report to. We firmly believe that safety is not the sole responsibility of a safety manager, but it’s everyone’s responsibility.
Every company should also consider making their safety plan public and make it easily accessible online. It helps the organisation members to find the information faster, but also the public is able to see that the organisation carefully considers safety matters. However, not all the information should be out there. This especially applies to institutions that are operating on higher risk levels. Examples are border security or state embassies. It’s a good idea to consider if publishing safety information creates more safety or more risks.
When you’re finally writing out the plan, these are the 15 key questions and tasks to consider:
Once you're set with the safety plan, the next step is to select the most suitable reporting system. It's a good idea to compare options and understand why you should choose saas over a bespoke app. Our recommendation is an easy-to-use web and mobile tool Falcony.io.
Does your organisation utilise safety metrics and KPIs to monitor safety performance? Get your FREE copy of our guide:
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Safety management plans help protect people and assets by complying with laws and addressing industry-specific risks. Prioritise clear communication, ongoing training, and public accessibility where appropriate, while balancing information sharing with security considerations. Follow a structured plan, engage staff, and regularly review to improve safety performance and organisational resilience.