Health and Safety Policy for Hedge Trimming Coney Hall

This Health and Safety Policy sets out the commitments and procedures for professional Hedge Trimming Coney Hall activities and related hedge maintenance services in the wider gardening service area. The policy is designed to protect employees, contractors, clients and the public by defining safe systems of work for hedge cutting, pruning and clearance tasks. It applies to all operations carried out by our teams, whether routine pruning, formative trimming or vegetation control adjacent to highways and properties.

This policy covers the scope of work, roles and responsibilities, risk assessments, training and equipment management for all staff involved in hedge care. It is intended to be proportionate to the scale of work undertaken by a local gardening and hedge trimming business offering services across the service area and should be interpreted in conjunction with site-specific method statements. The arrangements below form the core approach to safety for Coney Hall hedge trimming and associated garden maintenance operations.

Management has a duty to provide a safe working environment and to ensure that systems of work are robust. The designated safety lead will be responsible for implementing and monitoring compliance. Supervisors and team leaders must ensure that every job has a documented assessment of hazards and a clear plan for control measures before work starts. Staff are required to cooperate with safety instructions, attend training and use equipment correctly to minimise exposure to risks when performing hedge trimming in Coney Hall and surrounding neighbourhoods.

Risk Assessment and Control Measures

All hedge trimming activities will be preceded by a written risk assessment and a site-specific method statement. Assessments should identify hazards including working at height, proximity to live traffic, underground services, overhead cables, use of powered tools and manual handling. Control measures will include exclusion zones, traffic management where necessary, use of appropriate PPE and mechanical aids to reduce lifting strain. The goal is to reduce risk to as low as reasonably practicable for both operatives and the public.

Equipment controls are central to safe hedge maintenance. All powered tools such as petrol hedge trimmers, long-reach tools and chainsaws must be inspected before use, maintained to manufacturer standards and only used by trained operatives. Personal protective equipment including eye and ear protection, cut-resistant gloves, chainsaw trousers where relevant and high-visibility clothing are mandatory. Where applicable, electrical isolation and safe systems to control moving parts will be enforced to prevent accidental startup or contact.

Emergency procedures include clear instructions for first aid, evacuation and reporting. First aid kits must be available on site and at least one operative on every job should hold a current first aid qualification. Incidents that cause injury, ill health or significant property/environmental damage must be reported immediately and documented. Environmental safeguards such as protection of wildlife habitats, avoidance of unnecessary chemical use and waste management are part of the control regime for responsible hedge trimming within the gardening service region.

Training, Competence and Work Practices

Only competent staff will carry out hedge works. Competence is demonstrated through a combination of formal training, practical assessment and experience in garden and hedge care. Induction training covers safe use of tools, hazard recognition, manual handling techniques and the company's safe operating procedures for hedge cutting. Continuous development and refresher training are provided to ensure staff remain confident with changes in equipment and best practice for Coney Hall hedge trimming.

Safe working practices include but are not limited to:

• Pre-start checks on tools and PPE
• Use of spotters where visibility is limited
• Establishment of exclusion zones and barriers
• Controlled disposal of cuttings and on-site housekeeping
• Avoidance of unnecessary risks when working near roads or utilities

Incident reporting, monitoring and review are essential. All near-misses and accidents must be recorded, investigated and used to improve safe systems of work. Regular site inspections, audits and toolbox talks will be conducted to maintain standards. Health surveillance will be provided where there is a risk of occupational exposure to relevant hazards, and records of training, risk assessments and inspections will be retained as part of continual improvement efforts.