10 Free Health And Safety Documents For Your Business

Every business needs health and safety documentation. Health and safety documents help you to control risks and communicate safe working procedures. Many health and safety documents are also required by law, like risk assessments and health and safety policies.

To help your business put safety into everything, the HASpod Free Plan includes over 40 free health and safety documents. These are templates that you can edit, fill in and use to create health and safety records. Here are the top 10 free health and safety documents for your business.

1. Method Statement Template

This is by far our most popular free health and safety document template. Because method statements can be tricky, there is no pre-defined layout or format, so if you are starting from scratch, it's hard to know where to start. The blank method statement template gives you an easy to follow form, you can enter your project details, list out the work procedure and control measures, and select the PPE that is required.

First, make sure you know what a method statement is, and the difference between method statements and risk assessments. Then start with the free method statement template, and if you need extra help, we also have lots of pre-completed method statements templates for your business activities.

Get the free blank method statement template to plan how to complete your high-risk work safely.

2. Risk Assessment Template

Risk assessments are a legal requirement, so another popular health and safety document is the free risk assessment template.

Identify the hazards, consider who might be harmed, and detail the controls needed to keep your team and others protected. It's much easier than starting from scratch because the layout and design have all been taken care of. You can fill in this template for your task or activity, and follow the 5 steps to risk assessment.

Get the free blank risk assessment template to identify and control the risks in your tasks and activities.

3. COSHH Assessment Template

COSHH assessments are needed under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations, or what you might know as COSHH. Nearly every business in every industry uses or produces hazardous substances in some form or another. From wood and silica dust in construction, paint and fumes in decorating, flour and oils in baking and cooking, shampoos and solvents in hair and beauty - COSHH is everywhere.

This blank COSHH assessment template can be filled in for the substances you work with.

4. Safety Awareness Toolbox Talk

Sometimes, health and safety get's a bad name. People can say it's boring, or it takes to long, or its just box-ticking, or it's an inconvenience. But health and safety could save your life. And what can be bad about a superhero that's going to save your life?

This safety awareness toolbox can be used to remind your team why health and safety is important, why they need to think about it, and the consequences if they don't.

5. Near Miss Report Document

What’s a near miss? An accident waiting to happen, that’s what. Just because someone didn't get hurt this time, doesn't mean they will be so lucky next time. When a near-miss strikes, good health and safety practice says you should investigate - and see what needs to be done to create a safer work environment. Get your near-miss reporting in place within your organisation and prevent accidents before they occur.

Use the free near miss report to record what happened, when, and what action you have taken to prevent the same thing happening again.

6. Asbestos Awareness Toolbox Talk

Most workers within the construction sector need to know about asbestos. It kills thousands of workers each year, asbestos is constructions biggest killer. But it's not just construction workers that need to worry about asbestos. If you work in an industry where you may be exposed to asbestos, you need to be asbestos aware. Disturbing asbestos could kill you.

Considering any building built or refurbished before 2000 could contain asbestos, including schools, hospitals, homes and offices, it's important to know about this hidden killer.

This free asbestos awareness toolbox talk can be used as a short 5-minute reminder to be alert to the dangers of asbestos.

7. PPE Use Toolbox Talk

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is your last line of defence against a hazard and reduces the risk of illness or injury. Failing to wear the correct PPE could not only cost you your job but also your health, or your life. Your PPE is there to protect you if all else fails.

This free PPE use toolbox talk is ready to use, as a short talk, poster or handout, to make sure your team know the importance of wearing and using this equipment.

8. COSHH Register

We've talked about your COSHH assessment, but what about a record for the hazardous substances you use? Every business using substances hazardous to health can benefit from a COSHH register to keep their records organised and to stay compliant with legal requirements. Enter the details of all your hazardous substances, and keep a record of the material safety data sheets and COSHH assessments that go with them.

With this free COSHH register download, you can have your register set up in minutes.

9. Safety Signs Toolbox Talk

Health and safety signs are everywhere, displayed in most workplaces and send a message every time you look at one. But don't let that message get lost in translation. There are 5 main types of health and safety sign, and each means different things. Some signs tell you what you can do, others tell you what you can't do. Others are just there to warn you of hazards.

What does a mandatory sign look like? What does the yellow triangle mean? Find out with the free safety signs toolbox talk.

10. Construction Site Induction Register

Every person working in construction should have a construction site induction on each new construction site they work on. That's a lot of inductions. Keep records to show that you are carrying out inductions, who has had them, and when. Because inductions are a legal requirement.

Use this free construction site induction register as a quick way of keeping a record of your inductions on your sites.

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You get all the top 10 free health and safety documents, plus many more, on the HASpod Free Plan. Starting is easy, sign up today!