A written health and safety policy is required when a business employs how many people?

• A. 10 or more
• B. 3 or more
• C. 5 or more
• D. 8 or more

Answer: (C)

A written health and safety policy is required once a business employs five or more people. This threshold brings a formal duty to document how health and safety will be managed in the workplace. The policy should set out the aims of safety, who is responsible for what, and the practical arrangements for risk assessment, training, consultation with staff, incident reporting, and how the policy will be reviewed and updated. It must be written and accessible to all employees. In a veterinary practice, having this formal policy helps ensure clear guidance on handling animals, using sharps, dealing with chemicals and anesthetic gases, PPE, waste disposal, and emergency procedures, reducing risk to staff, clients, and animals. Smaller businesses may adopt safety practices, but the legal requirement applies at the five-employee threshold and above.