Hello there Sirs and Madams.. A 46yr old newbie here. Now, I’m in the process of getting everything ready to start a Hedge cutting Business, more so Topiary. I’m aiming for the commercial sector and It’s a requirement that I have Chas, and rightly so.

So, a couple of questions if I may.

At some point I’ll be obviously working from a stepladder at height. Will the HSS 2 part (User & inspector) training courses satisfy the Chas assessor, or will I need to do an additional working at heights type course as well.?

I wish to get all the proper training associated with the jobs H&S requirements i.e Coshh, Hand held hedge cutter. First Aid. Manual handling etc.

Will most of the courses either Lantra or City & guilds conform to the regulation i.e SSIP/CDM to pass the Chas standards.?

I wish to do everything right, and not cut any corners, but my purse to start said venture is shall we say, slightly embarrassed.

Any advice from you guys would be really appreciated. As I’m not really in any position to over regulate myself to achieve Chas and support my family etc.

Hi Andrew
There is an IOSH leaflet for landscapers.
https://www.iosh.co.uk/~...p-landscaping.pdf?la=en.

Whilst nothing to do with the accreditation questions you raise (best dealt with by phoning CHAS) this guide does set out key H&S pointers. My suggestion is to treat each point as a question - and the answers you give are your (current) system. Pages 5-13 are the nitty gritty.

I would expect that the Lantra courses are the best for your trade, and they also combine many of the hazard areas into one course - check with Chas, but there are few alternatives.

Use activity based risk assessment principles - ie. "hedgecutting" which then includes all the safety problems associated, whether manual handling, chemicals, (includes fumes) flammables, noise etc. Avoid assessing each of these 'hazards' separately - waste of time.

List all your solutions, or rules relevant to the task. These will include:
Training, information (quite acceptable to use information!), equipment & tools, emergency (mobile & first aid kit), and how these are checked / maintained. This is the important bit - your own system(s).
If your range of tasks gets longer than apx 10, and / or repetitive, think about combining some.

Its all about simplicity and workability - well it is to me! Not producing reams of paperwork of no benefit.

HSE website has some stuff, they use the term amenity/landscaping - and their agriculture webpages are also useful, but beware overload! Good luck with the business.

Hi Andrew, Back in 2006 I set up a business with similar activities. I got the business accredited through Safe Contractor, who were very supportive and helped guide me through the various hoops required to gain accreditation and renewals.

They wanted details of the H&S policy, Safe systems of work, Risk Assessments, Public Liability Insurance, Training requirements, qualifications of employees and experience of staff. I found that they also offer consultancy as part of their membership which was very useful.

The working at height aspect can get clients quite excited, with long handled trimmers, saws and lopers this can often be avoided with the operator remaining on the ground.

A waste carriers licence is also required to remove the green waste, although can be avoided if you can shred the waste back onto the site.

Hope this helps