Hedge Trimming Spitalfields - Health & Safety Policy

This Health and Safety Policy sets out the commitment of Hedge Trimming Spitalfields to manage risks associated with hedge cutting, pruning and garden clearance operations. The purpose of this document is to ensure that all work is carried out with due regard for the safety of employees, clients, visitors and the public, and to maintain best practice across our gardening service area. The policy applies to all staff, subcontractors and anyone acting on behalf of the company while performing hedge maintenance and related groundskeeping tasks.

We operate as a specialist hedge maintenance and garden care provider and recognise that hedge trimming work involves a range of hazards. These include working at height, the use of powered tools, manual handling, interaction with vehicular traffic, and potential environmental impacts. This policy complements site-specific safe systems of work and risk assessments that are carried to control these risks prior to any hedge or boundary vegetation work commencing.

Scope: the policy covers routine and one-off hedge cuts, formative pruning, hedge reduction, clearance of woody material, and ancillary tasks such as stump grinding, grass cutting and waste handling. It applies within the immediate service area for our gardening and landscape maintenance operations and is designed to be scalable for domestic gardens, communal spaces and small commercial sites.

Responsibilities: overall responsibility for health and safety rests with the company's management team, yet safety is a shared obligation. Key responsibilities include:

• Management — set policy, provide training, ensure adequate resources and carry out inspections;
• Supervisors — prepare risk assessments, brief teams, and enforce safe working procedures;
• Operatives — follow instructions, use personal protective equipment (PPE), report hazards and participate in training;
• Subcontractors — comply with our standards and provide evidence of competence and insurance where applicable.

We require staff to be competent for hedge care tasks, including the safe operation of hand tools, petrol and battery powered hedge trimmers, chainsaws where relevant, and mechanical lifting aids. Training records are maintained, and refresher training is scheduled to ensure continuing competence.

Risk assessment and planning are central to our approach. Prior to work starting we carry out a documented site assessment that identifies foreseeable hazards, determines control measures and sets out emergency procedures. This includes checks for underground services, overhead lines, protected species or nesting birds, unstable trees and the presence of bystanders or traffic.

Safe systems of work: controls are applied using the hierarchy of risk control: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls and PPE. Examples include using hand tools instead of powered tools where practicable, implementing exclusion zones with clear signage and barriers, coordinating traffic management for roadside hedges, and enforcing tool guarding and regular maintenance.

Personal Protective Equipment: operatives are provided with and must wear appropriate PPE for hedge operations: cut-resistant gloves, safety boots, high-visibility clothing, eye protection, hearing protection and chainsaw protective trousers where chainsaws are used. The company maintains PPE inventories and replaces items as required to ensure effectiveness.

Plant and equipment safety: all machinery is selected for purpose and maintained in accordance with manufacturers' guidelines. Pre-start checks are completed and defects reported. Fuel handling, battery charging and secure transportation of powered equipment are managed to reduce the likelihood of fire, spillage or accidental starts. Only trained personnel operate specialised plant.

Emergency procedures and first aid: a clear emergency response is established for incidents, including serious injury, fire and spillage. First aid kits are available in vehicles and at main storage locations, and nominated staff hold valid first aid certificates. Incidents are reported and investigated to prevent recurrence; records are kept to comply with company accident reporting standards.

Environmental and public safety: Hedge Trimming Spitalfields commits to minimising environmental impact and protecting the public. Waste green material is handled responsibly and recycled where feasible. Timing of works considers nesting seasons and ecological sensitivity; if protected species are identified, work is suspended and qualified advice sought. Public safety measures, including temporary footpath closures or pedestrian segregation, are used when necessary to keep passersby safe.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

We audit our performance through regular site inspections, toolbox talks and management reviews. Health and safety performance indicators, such as near misses, incidents and training completion rates, inform corrective actions. This policy is reviewed at least annually or following significant change to operations, equipment, legislation or after a serious incident to ensure it remains effective and relevant.

Implementation Statement

Hedge Trimming Spitalfields will: maintain adequate resources to implement this policy; ensure that employees and contractors are made aware of their duties; and promote a positive safety culture where risks are managed proactively. All employees are encouraged to raise concerns and suggest improvements.

Signed and endorsed by company management. The procedures described here form the basis for safe hedge maintenance, boundary planting care and related gardening services provided by our team. Adherence to this policy helps protect people, property and the environment while delivering consistent, professional hedge care across our service area.