Health & Safety Policy

Draft for client review

Status: Working draft dated 20 July 2026. This policy has been prepared from current official UK guidance for Bruce Penny to review. It is not yet an approved company policy.

Before approval, confirm that the responsibilities and working arrangements below match current practice. Professional legal or safety advice should be obtained where needed.

1. Statement of intent

Penny Tree Surgery will, so far as is reasonably practicable, protect the health, safety and welfare of workers and other people who may be affected by our work. We will plan work properly, use competent people and suitable equipment, consult workers, and stop work when conditions cannot be made safe.

This policy supports, but does not replace, task-specific risk assessments, method statements, site briefings, equipment checks, emergency plans and legal duties.

2. Responsibilities

Bruce Penny has overall responsibility for health and safety, resources, competent advice, risk assessment, training, equipment, incident review and keeping this policy current.

Supervisors and lead workers must brief the team, confirm controls are in place, coordinate subcontractors and stop unsafe work. Every worker must follow instructions, use equipment and protective equipment correctly, report defects and near misses, protect colleagues and the public, and never work while impaired.

3. Planning and risk control

• Assess the site, task, tree condition, terrain, weather, utilities, access, public interface and emergency arrangements before work starts.
• Use a hierarchy of control, eliminating hazards where possible before relying on procedures or personal protective equipment.
• Establish suitable exclusion zones, signs, barriers and traffic or pedestrian controls.
• Check for protected trees, permissions and environmental constraints before relevant work.
• Review controls when the scope, people, equipment, weather or site conditions change.

4. Competence, equipment and protective equipment

Only trained, competent and authorised people may carry out tree work or operate chainsaws, chippers, stump grinders, excavators, lifting equipment or other specialist machinery. Training, certification, supervision and refresher needs will be matched to the task.

Work equipment must be suitable, maintained, inspected and used with guards and safety devices in place. Lifting and climbing equipment must receive the examinations required by law. Required personal protective equipment will be provided, fitted, maintained and used without charge to workers.

5. Key arrangements

• Work at height and aerial rescue planning.
• Chainsaw, machinery, vehicle and lifting safety.
• Control of noise, vibration, dust, fuel, chemicals and other hazardous substances.
• Manual handling, fatigue, welfare, hydration and weather exposure.
• Public protection, road work, utilities, lone working and site security.
• First aid, fire, emergency communication and access for emergency services.
• Young workers, trainees, visitors and others who may need additional protection.

6. Incidents, consultation and improvement

Injuries, dangerous occurrences, near misses, equipment defects and unsafe conditions must be reported promptly. We will provide first aid, secure the scene where needed, investigate proportionately, retain required records and make statutory reports when the reporting criteria are met.

Workers will be consulted about risks and practical controls. Lessons from incidents, changes in guidance, inspections and worker feedback will be used to improve our arrangements.

7. Monitoring and review

Bruce Penny will review this policy at least annually and after a serious incident, significant near miss, enforcement contact, material change in work or equipment, or relevant change in law or guidance. The approved version will be shared with workers.

8. Official guidance used

HSE guidance on preparing a health and safety policy

HSE tree work health and safety guidance

HSE guidance on reporting injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences