Health and Safety Policy for Hedge Trimming Tooting

This Health and Safety policy sets out the commitment of our gardening team to deliver safe and professional hedge trimming Tooting services. It applies to all staff, contractors and subcontractors engaged in hedge work across the service area. The purpose is to protect employees, the public and property by defining responsibilities, risk controls and safe working practices for hedge maintenance and cutting in the Tooting area.

The policy covers planning, equipment, training and environmental precautions. Our objectives include preventing accidents, reducing exposure to hazards and ensuring compliance with common industry standards. Key principles are: hazard identification, risk assessment, control measures proportional to the task and continuous monitoring. All team members are expected to apply these principles during every hedge care in Tooting assignment.

Responsibilities are allocated at all levels: management ensures resourcing and leadership; supervisors coordinate on-site safety; operatives follow safe systems of work. For Tooting hedge trimming jobs the crew must confirm site access, proximity to pedestrians and traffic, and service-specific hazards such as hidden posts or wire. A pre-work check and documented brief will be completed before any hedge cutting activity.

Risk Assessment and Control Measures

Before starting work the team completes a dynamic and recorded risk assessment tailored to each site. Controls include the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), tool guards, and exclusion zones. Where power tools are used, electrical safety procedures and RCD protection form part of the control measures to minimise electric shock and entanglement risks during hedge trimming in Tooting.

PPE for operatives typically comprises gloves, eye protection, hearing protection, high-visibility clothing and suitable footwear. For elevated work, harnesses and ladders are used only when a method statement and safe working procedure are in place. Equipment inspection records are maintained and any defective machinery is taken out of service immediately to prevent incidents during hedge maintenance work.

Emergency procedures and first aid provisions are established for all sites. Supervisors must ensure at least one trained first-aider is available during operations, and that emergency access is preserved. Incident reporting and near-miss logging are mandatory; these reports inform corrective actions and help refine our approach to safe hedge cutting in and around Tooting.

Safe Work Practices

All staff must follow safe work practices including tool-specific techniques, manual handling precautions and traffic management when working near roads. Use of clearly marked exclusion zones and cones is required to protect the public. Noise and vibration controls are applied to reduce long-term health effects for operatives performing repetitive hedge trimming tasks.

Training and competence are essential. Operatives receive induction, task-specific training and refresher sessions. Supervision levels vary by task complexity and operative experience. Contractors engaged for specialised pruning or access work must demonstrate equivalent safety standards and proof of training before commencing any Tooting hedge trimming contract.

Inspections, maintenance and record keeping are integral. Daily tool checks, periodic servicing of machinery and audit trails for risk assessments and incident logs ensure traceability and continuous improvement. Waste arising from hedge work is managed responsibly to avoid environmental harm and ensure tidy sites on completion of hedge care in local neighbourhoods.

Public safety and traffic control are prioritised during operations close to footways and carriageways. A site-specific approach to pedestrian diversion, signage and supervision limits exposure. For larger or complex jobs, traffic management plans will be implemented proportionate to the hazard, ensuring both operative and public safety during hedge cutting services in Tooting.

Management commitment includes provision of resources for safety training, equipment and supervision. Regular toolbox talks and briefings reinforce expectations. Performance indicators such as incident frequency, training completion and audit results are reviewed to drive improvements. Where risks are identified, we apply the hierarchy of controls to eliminate, substitute, isolate or control hazards associated with hedge maintenance.

This policy will be reviewed periodically and after any significant incident, change of equipment or legislation. Our company is committed to a culture where safety is actively promoted and every team member contributes to safer outcomes. By following these arrangements for hedge trimming services around Tooting, we aim to deliver consistent, safe and professional care to green boundaries while protecting people and property.