In brief
An OHS policy is a document that sets out on one page the employer's direction and commitments on occupational health and safety; Law No. 6331 lists developing a coherent and overall prevention policy among the principles of protection from risks. A good policy consists of short, workplace-specific commitments that can be tracked; it is signed by the most senior manager, announced in language workers understand and reviewed at least once a year. A text made up of general slogans that is the same in every factory does not serve this purpose.
What is an OHS policy, and is it mandatory?
In the entrance hall of many factories there is a framed OHS policy, and most of them look alike: "The health of our workers is our greatest value", "we aim for zero accidents", "we comply with the legislation". None of these sentences is wrong; but none of them says what that workplace will do differently. The policy is a document that sets out on one page the direction management is taking on OHS and what it commits to. If it is well written, all the other documents, from the annual work plan to the training programme, link back to it.
In the legal framework, Art. 5 of Law No. 6331 lists among the principles the employer must take into account when fulfilling its obligations "developing a coherent and overall prevention policy covering the effects of factors related to technology, work organisation, working conditions, social relationships and the working environment". The Law does not separately regulate turning this policy into a written document in a particular form. A written policy is, however, an explicit requirement of the ISO 45001 management system standard and is frequently requested in customer audits in supply chains such as automotive. For the structure of the standard, see our article what is ISO 45001, and for customer audits, our article on preparing for supplier OHS audits.
Four features of a good OHS policy
- Short: It does not exceed one page; it can be read on a noticeboard and explained in a few minutes during induction training.
- Workplace-specific: The reader should be able to tell which sector and which company the text belongs to. Machine safety should appear in the policy of a metalworking plant with a press line, and vehicle–pedestrian separation in that of a warehouse with heavy forklift traffic.
- Trackable: The commitments are concrete enough to be turned into annual targets.
- Owned: The most senior manager signs it, it is prepared in consultation with workers and their representatives, and it is genuinely communicated.
OHS policy content: section by section
ISO 45001 requires the policy to contain certain commitments: providing safe and healthy working conditions, fulfilling legal and other requirements, eliminating hazards and reducing risks, continual improvement, and consultation and participation of workers. These commitments also overlap with the principles of protection from risks in Law No. 6331 and the provision in Art. 18 on consulting workers and their participation. Practical OHS policy content consists of the following sections:
| Section | What is written? | Wording to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Which site, branch and activities; subcontractors and visitors | Vague scope such as "all our stakeholders" |
| The workplace's main risks | The 3–4 most important risk areas (for example presses, forklifts, chemicals, work at height) | A general list that fits every workplace |
| Commitments | Legal requirements, reducing risks at source, worker participation, continual improvement | Unmeasurable claims of superiority such as "the best" or "the safest" |
| Workers' rights | The right to report hazards and to refuse to work in serious danger, no sanctions for reporting | Text listing only workers' obligations |
| Link to targets | That the policy will be tracked through annual targets | Text that mentions no targets at all |
| Signature and date | Job title, date, revision number | Unsigned text, or text bearing the same date for years |
How do you write a measurable OHS commitment?
You do not have to give figures in the policy text; but every OHS commitment should be written so that a measurable target can be derived from it. The table below shows how a general statement turns into a workplace-specific commitment and a trackable indicator:
| General statement | Workplace-specific commitment | Indicator to track |
|---|---|---|
| "We prevent accidents." | "We do not allow work on a machine whose guard has been disabled on the press and press brake lines." | Number of guard non-conformities found on site walks |
| "We listen to our workers." | "We record every hazard and near miss report and tell the reporter the outcome." | Time taken to close reports |
| "We value training." | "Nobody starts on a machine without receiving job-specific training." | Number of workers working without an induction training record |
| "We comply with the legislation." | "We have periodic inspections and measurements carried out before they expire." | Number of overdue inspections |
| "We oversee subcontractors." | "Every contractor worker entering the site receives site induction training." | Contractor workers without a site induction training record |
For how to choose indicators, see our article on OHS performance indicators.
Example of an occupational health and safety policy
The text below is an example of an occupational health and safety policy prepared for a metal parts manufacturer in Bursa with press, welding and paint lines. Do not copy it as it is; rewrite it according to your own risks and commitments.
[Company name] Occupational Health and Safety Policy
At [Company name], we regard it as part of our job that everyone working on our press, welding and paint lines goes home as healthy as they came to work. To this end:
- We comply with the occupational health and safety legislation in force and with our customers' requirements.
- We reduce risks at source first; we put machine guards, ventilation and mechanical handling ahead of personal protective equipment.
- We do not allow work on a machine whose guard has been disabled or which is being maintained without lockout.
- We protect every worker's right to report hazards and near misses, record reports and explain the outcome to the reporter.
- We do not put anyone on a machine who has not received job-specific training.
- We ensure that subcontractors and visitors also follow these rules.
- We set annual targets in consultation with our workers and their representatives, review the results every year and improve.
General Manager, name and surname, signature, date, revision no.
Every item in the text is concrete enough to be linked to annual targets and the annual work plan.
Signing, announcing and reviewing the policy
At the signing stage, the document is signed by the company's most senior manager; the date and revision number appear next to the signature. The draft should be prepared in consultation with workers or their representatives before signing. Art. 18 of Law No. 6331 requires the employer to consult workers on OHS matters and give them the right to make proposals. In workplaces with an OHS committee, Art. 8 of the Regulation on OHS Committees gives the committee the duty of preparing a draft OHS internal directive suited to the nature of the workplace, submitting it for the employer's approval and monitoring its implementation; putting the policy draft on the committee agenda is consistent with this process. For committee and representative processes, see our articles on how to set up an OHS committee and electing the worker representative.
Announcing the policy is not just a matter of putting the signed document on the noticeboard:
- Explain the policy in a section lasting a few minutes during induction training.
- Display it in a language workers understand and at a readable size; prepare translations for foreign workers.
- Give it to subcontractors and contractors as an annex to the contract.
- Have shift supervisors explain to their own teams what the commitments in the policy mean in their department.
In companies with more than one site or branch, a single umbrella policy may be enough; however, each site's main risks should appear in the policy or in the site targets linked to it. If a factory in Bursa and a warehouse in a neighbouring province share the same policy, the warehouse worker should be able to find forklifts and the loading ramp in the text, and the factory worker the press and paint lines. Subcontractors may have their own policies; in a shared work area, however, the contract should state clearly that the main employer's rules apply.
The policy is reviewed at least once a year: together with the annual evaluation report, check whether the policy still reflects the workplace's risks and direction. A new site, a new production line, a merger or a serious accident may require the policy to be updated before the year is out. Under our OHS specialist service, we prepare the policy and the targets linked to it together with the company and tie them to the annual plan. To see your minimum obligations, you can use the OHS obligation calculator.
Common mistakes
- Copying another company's text. The reader cannot see your workplace's risks in the text.
- Writing only workers' obligations. The policy is above all management's commitment.
- Unrealistic promises. A "zero accidents" slogan that is not followed up does not build trust; measurable commitments are more convincing.
- Signing it and forgetting it. A policy that has carried the same date for years shows that it has not been reviewed. For what the policy means on the shop floor, our article on how to build an OHS culture offers guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is writing an OHS policy a legal requirement?
Art. 5 of Law No. 6331 lists developing a coherent and overall prevention policy among the principles of protection from risks; however, it does not separately regulate turning the policy into a written document in a particular form. A written policy is required for ISO 45001 certification and in many customer audits.
Who signs the OHS policy?
The company's most senior manager signs it, such as the employer or the general manager. The date and revision number should appear next to the signature.
How often is the OHS policy updated?
Reviewing it at least once a year is good practice. It is updated before the year is out when there are changes such as a new site, a new production line, a merger or a serious accident.
What is the difference between the policy and the internal directive?
The policy sets out management's direction and commitments on one page. The internal directive and instructions set out in detailed rules how these commitments will be implemented.
Should a small workshop have an OHS policy too?
The Law does not separately require a written policy document; however, even in a 10-person workshop, management writing down in a few points what it commits to on OHS sends a clear message to workers and customers. A short, signed text specific to the workshop's risks is enough.
A certified specialist matched to your hazard class: site inspections, approved logbook, training plan, annual plan and report follow-up.
Bursa SİSTEMER OSGB Technical Team — written from the field experience of our OHS specialists and workplace physicians. Legal information is valid as of the publication/update date; contact us for an assessment specific to your business.