Health & Safety Policy — Garden Clearance Edmonton

Garden Clearance Edmonton is committed to protecting the health and safety of our staff, contractors, customers and the public while delivering professional garden clearance and rubbish removal services. This policy sets out the principles and practical measures we adopt to manage risk across our service area in a consistent, compliant and responsible way. It is intended as a formal statement of intent that guides day-to-day operations and reflects our duty of care under applicable health and safety frameworks.

Scope: This policy applies to all work activities including garden clearance, waste loading, green waste disposal, hazardous material handling, and vehicle operations within the general rubbish collection and garden waste removal sector. It covers employees, temporary workers and any contractors or third parties engaged to support projects. While the company name reflects our origins, the procedures below are designed to be suitable across our operational footprint and not limited to any single locality.

Objectives: We aim to prevent injuries and occupational ill health by identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing controls. Our objectives include maintaining reliable risk assessments, providing appropriate training, ensuring suitable personal protective equipment (PPE), and conducting regular inspections and incident reviews. We adopt a continuous improvement approach: whenever incidents or near-misses occur, measures will be revised to reduce recurrence.

Responsibilities and Leadership

Senior management retains ultimate responsibility for health and safety policy delivery and resourcing. Line managers are responsible for enforcing controls on site, while individual workers must follow procedures and report hazards. Strong leadership and visible commitment are essential to creating a positive safety culture in garden waste services and rubbish removal operations.

Worker duties

Every worker must take reasonable care for their own safety and for the safety of others affected by their acts or omissions. Workers are required to:

• Follow safe systems of work and site risk assessments
• Use provided PPE such as gloves, eye protection, hi-vis and steel-toe footwear
• Report incidents, near-misses or unsafe conditions promptly

These expectations support the preventive approach integral to garden rubbish clearance and tree or shrub removal tasks.

Risk assessment and control: We identify hazards such as manual handling, slips, trips and falls, sharps and broken glass, biological materials (e.g., mold or animal waste), and traffic interactions during garden clearance and rubbish collection. For each hazard we implement a hierarchy of controls: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative measures and PPE as a last resort. Safe operating procedures are documented and reviewed periodically.

Training and competency: All operatives receive task-specific induction and refresher training that covers safe use of tools, chainsaws where applicable, safe lifting techniques, vehicle loading limits and segregation of recyclable or hazardous wastes. We maintain records of training and verify competence before assigning higher-risk duties. Competent supervision is provided for new staff and trainees to reduce exposure to hazards.

Equipment and maintenance: Plant, tools and vehicles used for garden clearance and rubbish removal are inspected before use and maintained according to manufacturer guidance. Faulty equipment is removed from service until repaired. Fuel, batteries and sharp implements are stored securely and transported following safe handling protocols to minimise spillage, fire or injury risks.

Incident reporting and investigation: All accidents, injuries and near-misses must be reported immediately. Incidents are investigated to determine root causes and corrective actions. Findings inform training updates and procedural changes. We maintain a clear non-punitive reporting culture to encourage openness and learning across our garden waste and general rubbish services.

Emergency preparedness and first aid: Emergency arrangements are in place for on-site incidents, vehicle collisions, severe injuries and fire. First aid kits are available in vehicles and at depots, and trained first aiders are identified. Emergency contact and escalation procedures are clearly communicated to staff to ensure timely response while preserving evidence for investigation purposes.

Environmental and waste segregation practices: Our approach to rubbish and garden waste removal includes segregation of general waste, recyclable materials and controlled wastes. We minimise environmental harm by following approved disposal routes and by encouraging reuse and recycling where practicable. Spill kits and containment measures are used to manage small fuel or chemical leaks safely.

Policy review and continual improvement: This health and safety policy is reviewed at least annually and after significant incidents or changes to work practices. Performance is monitored through audits, site inspections and reviewing incident trends. We set measurable targets for reduction of accidents and improved compliance, and we report progress internally to maintain accountability.