Health & Safety Policy — Garden Clearance Acton

This Health and Safety policy sets out the principles and practical measures for safe garden clearance work carried out by our rubbish company service area teams. It applies to all staff, subcontractors and temporary workers engaged in vegetation removal, composting, timber and green waste handling, and bulky waste collection. The policy aims to protect people, property and the environment by reducing hazards associated with garden clearance and related rubbish removal activities.

The purpose of this document is to describe roles, responsibilities and safe systems of work that ensure compliance with statutory duties and industry best practice. It identifies common risks encountered during garden clearance in Acton and surrounding service areas and provides control measures for manual handling, use of powered tools, slip/trip/fall prevention and safe disposal of waste. Managers shall ensure every operative is familiar with this policy and understands the site-specific risk assessment before starting work.

The scope of the policy covers pre-task planning, on-site execution and post-task disposal. It applies to bulk rubbish removal, garden waste clearance within our local rubbish removal company service area, and vehicle loading and transportation. All work must be preceded by a site-specific assessment that documents hazards, assigns control measures and records required personal protective equipment (PPE). Where risks cannot be eliminated they must be reduced so far as is reasonably practicable.

Responsibilities and Training

Senior management is responsible for maintaining an effective safety management system, providing resources and ensuring compliance with this garden clearance policy. Supervisors must implement safe systems, conduct toolbox talks and verify competency. Each operative is responsible for following safe procedures, using PPE and reporting hazards or near misses. The local rubbish removal company service area supervisors should keep up-to-date training records and monitor performance through spot checks and refresher training.

All workers must receive appropriate training on manual handling techniques, chainsaw and brushcutter operation where applicable, vehicle loading, sharps handling and safe use of hand and powered tools. Training also covers traffic management on properties and public footways, and awareness of underground services and protected trees. Records of training and competency assessments are retained and reviewed annually.

Key control measures include:

• Risk assessments: completed before each task and updated for changing conditions.
• PPE: high-visibility clothing, gloves, eye and hearing protection, and protective footwear.
• Equipment checks: daily pre-use inspections and maintenance schedules for tools and vehicles.

Operational Safety, Waste Handling and Incident Reporting

Safe work procedures are in place for stump removal, hedge trimming, brush clearance and handling of mixed garden waste. Operatives must segregate waste streams where possible to facilitate recycling and comply with waste transfer requirements. The policy emphasises that bulky and hazardous items discovered during clearance should be isolated and reported for specialist removal rather than handled by untrained staff.

Vehicle safety principles include secure loading, weight distribution checks and the use of tail-lifts and straps where necessary. Drivers must comply with vehicle maintenance programmes, logbook checks and safe driving practices while operating within the rubbish collection area. Vehicles used for garden clearance must carry spill kits and equipment for first response in case of minor incidents.

Incident reporting and investigation procedures are mandatory: all accidents, near-misses and environmental incidents must be reported promptly and recorded. Investigations identify root causes and corrective actions, which are communicated to the workforce to prevent recurrence. The policy is reviewed at least annually and revised following significant incidents, changes in regulations, or operational learnings. These measures contribute to continuous improvement in safety performance across our garden clearance and rubbish removal operations, ensuring a safer workplace and better protection for the public and environment.