Health and Safety Policy for Gardeners New Addington

Gardeners New Addington is committed to providing gardening and grounds care services in a manner that protects the health, safety, and welfare of our clients, our employees, contractors, visitors, and members of the public. We recognise our responsibility to manage our activities so that risks arising from our work are controlled and, where reasonably practicable, eliminated.

This Health and Safety policy sets out our general approach and the standards we apply across all gardening and outdoor maintenance services, including private gardens, communal areas, commercial landscapes, and residential developments within our service area.

Our Health and Safety Aims

Our aims are to prevent injury, ill health, and property damage arising from our work and to promote a positive health and safety culture. We will:

Identify hazards associated with gardening, landscaping, and grounds maintenance work and assess the risks.

Implement proportionate measures to control those risks.

Provide and maintain safe equipment, tools, and vehicles.

Deliver training, information, and supervision so work can be carried out safely and competently.

Continually review and improve our health and safety performance.

Management Responsibilities

The management of Gardeners New Addington has overall responsibility for health and safety within the business. This includes ensuring that:

Suitable risk assessments are completed for all significant tasks, such as lawn care, hedge trimming, tree work within our competence, planting, and the use of powered machinery and chemicals.

Safe systems of work are developed, communicated, and enforced.

Equipment and machinery are selected, inspected, maintained, and replaced as necessary to remain safe and fit for purpose.

Employees are provided with appropriate personal protective equipment and that it is used, stored, and maintained correctly.

Accidents, incidents, and near misses are investigated and, where required, reported to the relevant authorities.

Health and safety policies and procedures are reviewed regularly and updated in line with changes to legislation, guidance, and industry best practice.

Employee Responsibilities

Every employee and contractor working on behalf of Gardeners New Addington has a duty to work safely and to cooperate with health and safety arrangements. All personnel are expected to:

Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions.

Follow training, instructions, and safe systems of work at all times.

Use tools, machinery, and personal protective equipment in accordance with training and manufacturer guidance.

Report hazards, defects in equipment, unsafe conditions, or practices to management as soon as they are identified.

Report all accidents, injuries, or near misses promptly so that appropriate action can be taken.

Refrain from horseplay, misuse of equipment, or any behaviour that could compromise safety.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Risk assessments are carried out to identify potential hazards associated with our gardening and grounds maintenance operations. These include, among others, hazards connected with:

Use of powered equipment such as lawn mowers, strimmers, hedge trimmers, blowers, and chainsaws within our competence.

Manual handling of soil, plants, waste, paving, and equipment.

Working at height when pruning, hedge cutting, or accessing raised beds and features.

Use, storage, and disposal of garden chemicals, fuels, and other substances.

Traffic movements, parking, and work close to roads, driveways, and pedestrian routes.

Adverse weather conditions, uneven terrain, and slips, trips, and falls in outdoor environments.

Where risks cannot be eliminated, control measures are implemented, which may include physical safeguards, signage, barriers, personal protective equipment, job-specific checklists, and restrictions on certain tasks in particular conditions.

Equipment, Vehicles, and Personal Protective Equipment

All tools, machinery, and vehicles used by Gardeners New Addington will be purchased, maintained, and inspected so that they remain safe and suitable for the tasks undertaken. This includes routine checks before use and more formal inspections at specified intervals.

Employees are provided, as necessary, with personal protective equipment such as safety footwear, gloves, eye and ear protection, high-visibility clothing, and respiratory protection related to specific tasks. The correct use of this equipment is mandatory where specified as a control measure in our risk assessments and safe systems of work.

Training, Information, and Supervision

Appropriate training is provided to all staff based on their role and the tasks they undertake. This may include induction training, task-specific training on machinery, manual handling, safe use of substances, working at height within our remit, and awareness of environmental and public safety considerations.

Supervision levels are determined by the nature of the work, the competence of staff, and the level of risk involved. New or inexperienced workers are closely supervised until they have demonstrated that they can work safely and in accordance with our procedures.

Substances and Environmental Protection

Where gardening products, fuels, or other substances are used, we follow product guidance and relevant regulations. Safety data and control measures are considered as part of our risk assessments. Substances are stored securely, used in appropriate quantities, and disposed of responsibly to protect people, wildlife, and the wider environment.

Public and Client Safety

Many gardening activities take place in areas that remain accessible to clients, visitors, and the public. We plan and carry out our work to minimise disruption and prevent harm. This may involve:

Using barriers, cones, or temporary signs to keep people away from hazardous areas.

Planning work schedules to reduce interaction with busy areas or peak times.

Stopping work immediately if public safety could be compromised and resuming only when it is safe to do so.

Accidents, Incidents, and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, incidents, and near misses are recorded and, where appropriate, investigated to identify root causes and implement corrective measures. First aid supplies are available, and staff are informed of the procedures to follow in the event of an injury, fire, or other emergency while working on client premises or in public spaces.

Monitoring, Review, and Continuous Improvement

Gardeners New Addington is committed to continuous improvement in health and safety performance. We review our policy and procedures regularly, taking into account feedback from staff and clients, incident reports, changes in legislation, and developments in industry best practice.

This Health and Safety policy is communicated to all employees and contractors and is available to clients on request. By working together and maintaining high standards, we aim to deliver quality gardening services while safeguarding everyone affected by our activities.