Health and Safety Policy — Hedge Trimming Chislehurst

Policy statement: This document sets out the health and safety policy for all hedge trimming operations carried out by our gardening teams operating in and around Chislehurst. We are committed to preventing injury, protecting property, and safeguarding the public and the environment when delivering hedge cutting, hedge maintenance and related landscape services. This policy applies to all employees, contractors and subcontractors engaged in Chislehurst hedge trimming and associated grounds maintenance.

Scope and purpose

The purpose of this policy is to define responsibilities, set minimum standards and explain the control measures that must be applied during every hedge trimming operation. It covers pre-work planning, on-site risk assessment, use of powered hedge cutters, pruning saws, ladders and access equipment, safe working near roads and public footpaths, and procedures for adverse weather. The scope includes routine hedge trimming in Chislehurst, emergency works and one-off maintenance tasks.

Responsibilities

All personnel must understand their role. Key responsibilities include:

• Employer / Management: ensure resources, risk assessments and training are provided;
• Supervisors: enforce safe systems of work and monitor compliance;
• Operatives: carry out work safely, wear required PPE and report hazards;
• Visitors and clients: follow site rules and keep clear of live operations.

Failure to comply with safety rules may result in disciplinary action and removal from site.

Risk assessment and control measures

All hedge trimming jobs require a documented risk assessment before work begins. Assessments must identify hazards including falling from height, manual handling, working near traffic, contact with overhead utilities, noise, and flying debris. Reasonable control measures include exclusion zones, traffic management, tool guarding, and emergency access. Hierarchy of controls must be applied: eliminate, substitute, engineer, administrate and use PPE as the last resort.

Equipment, tool safety and maintenance

Equipment used: petrol and battery hedge trimmers, pole saws, secateurs, ladders and mobile elevating work platforms. All plant and tools must be inspected before use, maintained to manufacturer standards and kept clean. Only competent staff shall operate powered equipment and electrical tools must be subject to regular PAT testing where applicable. Pre-use checks include guards, blades, fuel lines and battery charge levels to reduce the risk of failure or accidental release.

Personal protective equipment and clothing

Appropriate PPE is mandatory. This includes high visibility clothing where required, cut-resistant gloves, eye protection, hearing protection, protective footwear and suitable head protection when working under branches. For chainsaw or high-risk operations, leg protection and face shields are required. The company will provide PPE and ensure it is replaced or cleaned as necessary.

Training, competence and supervision

Operatives must be trained and assessed as competent for the tasks they perform. Training topics include safe hedge trimming practices, use of powered tools, ladder safety, working near roads and public spaces, and wildlife awareness. Records of training, certificates and in-house assessments will be maintained. Supervision is required for apprentices and new staff until competency is demonstrated.

• Initial induction and site-specific briefings;
• Tool-specific certification where applicable;
• Refresher training and toolbox talks.

Emergency procedures and incident reporting

Procedures for first aid, emergency contact, incident reporting and investigation are in place. Every site must have access to a first aid kit and at least one trained first aider on larger or higher-risk jobs. All accidents, near misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported and recorded. Lessons learned will be used to update risk assessments and safe systems of work.

Environmental, public safety and wildlife considerations

Hedge maintenance in Chislehurst and nearby areas must protect biodiversity. Contractors will inspect for nesting birds, bats and protected species prior to cutting, and schedule work to avoid disturbance where reasonably practicable. Waste material will be managed responsibly: chippings recycled, green waste disposed of in accordance with local regulations and spill prevention measures in place for fuels. Work near public walkways will include clear signage, barriers and traffic management as necessary to protect passersby.

Monitoring, audit and continual improvement

The policy will be reviewed at least annually and after any significant incident or change in legislation. Managers will conduct regular site audits and supervisors will complete daily checklists. Records of inspections, training and maintenance form part of the compliance evidence. Strong management commitment and worker participation are essential to deliver safe hedge cutters operations and to maintain high standards across all Chislehurst hedge trimming services.