In the demanding field of arboriculture and grounds maintenance, we face inherent risks that extend beyond the use of power tools and working at height.
This includes exposure to soil contaminants such as heavy metals, pesticides and herbicides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are known for their carcinogenic properties and are produced by the incomplete burning of organic substances, chlorinated solvents, radioactive contaminants (which are both naturally occurring and the result of human activity), and asbestos, all of which present significant challenges.
Who is responsible for managing risk?
In the UK, the responsibilities for managing environmental and workplace risks are governed by several key pieces of legislation:
- Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974: This foundational legislation requires employers to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare of all their employees at work. This includes providing training, equipment, and information necessary to conduct their jobs safely.
- Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH): These regulations specifically require employers to control substances that are hazardous to health. This includes conducting risk assessments, implementing appropriate control measures, and ensuring that employees are properly informed and trained about the hazards and safe handling of these substances.
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999: This law reinforces the need for proper risk assessment and management. It requires employers to make arrangements to ensure safety and health at work, including effective planning, organisation, control, monitoring, and review of preventive and protective measures.
- Environmental Protection Act 1990 (Part IIA): Specifically relevant to soil contamination, this act deals with the identification and remediation of contaminated land that could cause harm or pollution. It outlines the responsibilities of those who cause or knowingly permit contamination, as well as the regulatory authorities overseeing the management and cleanup of such sites.
These laws collectively ensure that both employers and property/landowners take proactive steps to mitigate any risks associated with environmental hazards and workplace safety, fostering a safe working environment.
Each piece of legislation contributes to a framework where safety is prioritised and managed through ongoing diligence and compliance.
Soil Contaminants: A Collaborative responsibility
The most effective risk management is collaborative as well as rigorous with both the hiring entity and the contractor working together to ensure compliance with all relevant health and safety legislation.
This collaborative approach includes the sharing of information about any known risks and the measures in place to mitigate them. It also enables us to maintain our principle of safety first; a doctrine that has earned us several highly regarded and hard-won accreditations and approvals, including:
- Arboriculture Association Approved Contractor, which recognises best practice and high standards of professionalism in the field of arboriculture
- SafeContractor Approved, which is one of the UK’s leading health and safety accreditation schemes
- CHAS (the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme) certification, which is widely considered to be the UK’s leading provider of risk prevention, compliance, and supply chain management services.
The role of risk assessment method statements (RAMS)
RAMS are crucial for ensuring safe task execution and effective risk management (including soil contaminants) because they serve several important functions:
- Identify hazards: RAMs help in identifying potential risks and hazards associated with specific jobs or project tasks
- Outline safe procedures: They provide detailed instructions on how to safely perform tasks, aiming to minimise the risks identified
- Ensure compliance: RAMs ensure that work practices comply with health and safety legislation, helping businesses adhere to legal standards
- Improve communication: These documents serve as a communication tool between project managers, workers, and clients, ensuring everyone understands the risks and safety measures in place
- Facilitate training: RAMs are used as training guides that help induct new workers into safe practices specific to their tasks
- Dynamic updating: They are living documents that should be updated as new risks are identified, or when changes in processes occur, ensuring ongoing safety management.
However, despite the need for RAMS to convey large amounts of detail, it is essential that they remain as relevant and concise as possible to maintain focus and ensure that critical information is easy to identify and action. (For further information about RAMS and their role in project management, please click on this link.)
Risk management in practice
A sterling example of excellent risk management in practice is seen in the approach taken by Sodexo Government at Merville Barracks on Colchester Garrison.
Following extensive rebuilding and refurbishment in 2006, they reviewed and rewrote their Asbestos Management Plan and Asbestos Register to reflect the major changes that had occurred. This document serves as a vital record of asbestos management-related factors and presents evidence of conformance with the relevant procedural requirements.
It is shared with all contractors before they undertake any work onsite, so that they are aware of the risks they are exposing themselves to. Furthermore, all contractors must demonstrate they have undergone asbestos awareness training and are required to undertake a ‘Safety First’ induction before work commences.
We were due to undertake stump grinding work on behalf of Tivoli at the barracks and were made aware that there was a very low risk of asbestos exposure; the wording on the register we were sent stated, ‘presumed asbestos cement debris in soil.’
When we began to dig around the stump, we discovered cement debris, so we stopped work immediately knowing that disturbing the asbestos would release the fibres into the air. We informed our health and safety advisor and Sodexo, who reported it to the Asbestos Responsible Person for advice, recording and remediation in accordance with the plan.
A benchmark for others
This example underscores the effectiveness of collaborative efforts in risk management, serving as a benchmark for others in the industry.
It highlights how thorough preparation and adherence to safety protocols not only ensures compliance with legal requirements but also safeguards the health of contractors and the integrity of the environments that people like us manage.
A safer, greener future
We take the care of your grounds and the safety of those who frequent them as seriously as you do, and those are just two of the factors that set us apart in arboriculture and grounds maintenance.
We’re here to enhance the safety and aesthetic of your space with precision and care. To find out more about our bespoke services, simply get in touch and together we can shape a safer, greener future.
To find out more, please contact us on 01206 243 484 or by email at info@treeandlawn.co.uk.