Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Policy Statement - Free Template
Table of Contents
Why every workplace needs an occupational health and safety (OHS) policy statement
Employer commitment to health and safety
Structure of an effective OHS policy statement
Role of senior management
What makes an OHS policy statement successful? How to ensure your OHS policy statement is effective and legally compliant
How can I implement my OHS policy statement? Implementing your OHS policy: best practices for workplace safety integration
Lone worker safety in the workplace
Connect with SafetyLine to learn about better ways to protect your lone workers
Most workplaces across North America, especially in Canada, are required to have an occupational health and safety (OHS) policy statement. A well-planned and researched OHS policy statement is one of the important first steps in elevating the safety for your staff members – in particular, clearly outlining everything your organization wants to achieve in OHS, including its specific safety goals and objectives, as well as strategies and tactics that will involve the team. A strong OHS policy not only ensures compliance with workplace safety regulations but also solid accountability and care. Whether you're developing an occupational health and safety policy template or updating an existing one, aligning it with your OHS program implementation goals is essential.
Depending on where you work, an OHS policy statement and program may be a legal requirement, but regardless of your local laws, the safety and well-being of your workers should be a #1 priority. Even if it’s not legally required, develop some sort of statement or document that demonstrates the employer’s commitment to health and safety.
Why every workplace needs an occupational health and safety (OHS) policy statement
As stated previously, it may be legally required in your area or jurisdiction to develop an OHS policy statement in your workplace. For example, in Canada, it is mandatory to have such a document. Quite simply, this statement will be an accurate reflection of the safety needs of your workplace and will help apply and implement existing or new safety protocols and practices.
Disclaimer: This Occupational Health and Safety Policy template and guideline is provided by SafetyLine Lone Worker is for general information purpose only. You should not rely upon the material or information on the website as a basis for making any business, legal, or any other decisions
Employer commitment to health and safety
According to the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), an occupational health and safety policy “guides actions. A policy indicates the degree of an employer's commitment to health and safety. The statement of the employers' obligation should be to meet, or ideally exceed, their legal duties.
Additionally, CCOHS says employers should have an OHS policy statement because “such a policy should communicate the employer’s commitment to a healthy and safe workforce, be signed by senior management, be reviewed regularly, and updated as needed.”
Structure of an effective OHS policy statement
Many organizations develop their policy into 3 primary sections:
A statement of general position on workplace health and safety that verbally and clearly states your commitment to maintaining a place to work safely as well the general goals you want to achieve.
A section where you clearly and specifically detail who is responsible for specific safety duties and commitments.
A third and final section in which the tactics and strategies to mitigate or eliminate the safety hazards are planned. These includes ongoing practices and habits to help achieve the goals mentioned.
Role of senior management
According to CCOHS, to have an impact, the policy must:
Involve senior management and representatives in the preparation of the policy,
Be seen as consistent with the workplace's objectives of operating in an efficient and predictable manner,
Be relevant and appropriate to nature, scale, and OHS hazards and risk associated with that workplaces’ needs (not adopted from another workplace), and
Be accepted as equal in importance to the workplace's other policy objectives.
To ensure a safe and compliant workplace, an effective OHS policy must demonstrate senior management’s commitment to integrating health and safety into all operations. The policy should go beyond legal compliance by approaching safety legislation as a minimum requirement, assigning clear tasks to specific personnel, and holding all levels of management accountable.
Most importantly, the policy should promote collaboration between employees and leadership, as well as support continuous improvement through regular reviews, and include measurable safety objectives. Additionally, the OHS policy statement should be well-documented, communicated internally and externally, and backed by adequate funding and resources to support successful implementation and onboarding with staff.
What makes an OHS policy statement successful? How to ensure your OHS policy statement is effective and legally compliant
Ultimately, an OHS policy statement is successful when it satisfies all of the goals and objectives outlined in the original document. But in order to get there, these main areas must be covered:
As it’s been made clear, leadership and management must involve the team members impacted or employee representatives if it is larger organization and policy. It is important to involve team members because not only will benefit the most from the policy, but they can contribute valuable insight and feedback that only people in their positions can provide.
Make sure the policy’s goals are aligned with the organization’s mission, safety culture, and objectives. On top of that, make sure these goals are realistic and achievable.
For any new safety protocols or practices, make sure that any appropriate and affected staff are thoroughly and properly trained. Additionally, other appropriate staff should be updated about the safety changes within their coworkers’ roles.
A safety risk assessment is performed of any safety hazards like dangerous equipment, or potential harassment and workplace violence.
How can I implement my OHS policy statement? Implementing your OHS policy: best practices for workplace safety integration
Depending on the size of your team and organization, you have several options and tools to implement the policy statement, which can be disseminated throughout the company through a strategy such as an internal communications plan. This plan can detail how the safety policy will be integrated into the organization’s workflow and structure using strategies like orientation meetings for new hires, and short-but-focused training sessions and workshops to teach and educate staff about what the policy statement means to them and what they need to do to make sure it is successful. Additionally, staff can be reminded of the policy in daily meetings, staff events, on As it’s been made clear, leadership and management must involve the team members impacted or employee representatives if it is larger organization and policy. It is important to involve team members because not only will benefit the most from the policy, but they can contribute valuable insight and feedback that only people in their positions can provide.
Lone worker safety in the workplace
Lone workers face special safety risks and hazards that require extra attention in any OHS policy. To protect these vulnerable employees, companies can implement tools such as our lone worker safety solution app, which helps ensure their well-being in remote or isolated environments. With flexible pricing for businesses of all sizes, SafetyLine offers scalable safety solutions that support compliance and hazard prevention.
But addressing lone worker safety also means understanding broader workplace risks; explore SafetyLine’s Workplace Hazards series to learn how to identify and reduce threats effectively.
Connect with SafetyLine to learn about better ways to protect your lone workers
SafetyLine FAQs
What industries does SafetyLine support?
SafetyLine serves a wide range of industries from home healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, water utilities, energy, and non-profits—anywhere lone workers need protection
How does SafetyLine benefit organizations?
SafetyLine improves worker safety, boosts compliance, and enhances productivity by offering flexible, scalable safety solutions tailored to your team’s needs.
Is SafetyLine easy to use?
Yes. SafetyLine is built to be user-friendly and accessible across platforms like web, mobile, and satellite, requiring minimal training for effective use.
Are people legally allowed to work alone?
Yes, but many regions have specific legislation to protect lone workers. Employers must stay informed and compliant with local laws, such as those in Canada and internationally.
Is an OHS policy legally required in Canada?
Yes. In Canada, most workplaces are legally required to have a written OHS policy statement that reflects their safety practices and compliance with provincial or federal regulations.