Health And Safety Policy

Gardeners Old Ford Health and Safety Policy

Gardeners Old Ford is committed to providing gardening and grounds care services in a way that protects the health, safety, and welfare of our employees, contractors, clients, visitors, and members of the public. This policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with professional gardening, landscaping, and grounds maintenance activities.

Policy Statement and Objectives

Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health, and property damage arising from our work. We will identify, assess, and control risks associated with gardening tools, machinery, manual handling, chemicals, noise, weather conditions, and working in outdoor environments.

We aim to continually improve our health and safety performance by reviewing our procedures, learning from experience, and following relevant legislation, guidance, and industry good practice for professional gardening services.

Management Responsibilities

Management at Gardeners Old Ford holds overall responsibility for implementing this policy and maintaining safe systems of work. Management will ensure that:

Suitable and sufficient risk assessments are carried out for all routine and non-routine gardening and grounds maintenance tasks. Appropriate training, information, and supervision are provided so that staff understand how to complete work safely. Equipment, tools, and machinery are selected, maintained, and inspected to minimise the risk of injury. Safe working procedures are developed, communicated, and followed across all projects and service locations. Health and safety concerns raised by staff or clients are taken seriously and investigated promptly. Adequate resources are allocated to meet health and safety requirements, including protective equipment and training.

Employee Responsibilities

Every employee and contractor working on behalf of Gardeners Old Ford shares responsibility for maintaining a safe working environment. All staff must:

Take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Follow all health and safety instructions, safe systems of work, and site-specific rules. Use tools, machinery, and vehicles only if trained and authorised to do so, and in line with instructions. Correctly use and look after personal protective equipment provided, such as gloves, boots, eye and hearing protection, and high visibility clothing. Report hazards, near misses, defective equipment, or unsafe conditions to management without delay. Refrain from working under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any substance that may impair judgment or performance.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Risk assessments are carried out to identify hazards associated with our gardening and grounds care activities, including but not limited to:

Use of powered machinery such as mowers, hedge trimmers, strimmers, and blowers. Hand tools used for pruning, digging, cutting, and clearing. Manual handling of soil, plants, aggregates, equipment, and green waste. Application and storage of horticultural chemicals and products. Work at height when pruning, trimming, or maintaining trees and tall hedges. Working near roads, driveways, car parks, and shared access areas.

Findings from risk assessments are used to develop safe working methods, which may include scheduling tasks to avoid peak public use, segregating work areas, and using barriers or signage as required.

Equipment, Tools, and Machinery

Gardeners Old Ford will ensure that all equipment used in delivering gardening services is fit for purpose and maintained in safe condition. This includes:

Routine inspection and servicing of powered equipment and machinery. Ensuring guards, safety devices, and emergency stops are in place and functional. Providing suitable tools for the task to avoid makeshift or unsafe methods. Removing defective equipment from service until repairs or replacements are completed. Instructing staff in the safe starting, operating, transporting, and storage of machinery.

Chemicals, Substances, and Environmental Protection

Where horticultural chemicals, fuels, or other potentially hazardous substances are used, Gardeners Old Ford will ensure:

Only authorised and trained personnel handle and apply such substances. Manufacturers safety information is followed, and appropriate protective measures are in place. Substances are securely stored and correctly labelled. Any spills or leaks are managed promptly and safely to protect people, plants, wildlife, and property. Alternatives with lower risk are considered where practical.

Personal Protective Equipment

Suitable personal protective equipment will be provided where risks cannot be adequately controlled by other means. Depending on the task, this may include safety boots, gloves, eye protection, hearing protection, respiratory protection, and high visibility garments. Staff must wear the specified equipment for each activity and report any loss or damage so that it can be replaced.

Manual Handling and Physical Demands

Gardening and grounds maintenance can involve lifting, carrying, bending, and repetitive movements. To reduce the risk of injury, Gardeners Old Ford will:

Plan tasks to minimise heavy manual handling where possible. Provide suitable tools, trolleys, and lifting aids. Train staff in safe lifting techniques and task rotation where appropriate. Encourage staff to work within their physical limits and seek assistance for heavy or awkward loads.

Public Safety and Site Protection

Much of our work takes place in locations used by clients, residents, and the public. We will take reasonable steps to protect others by:

Assessing site-specific risks before work starts. Using barriers, cones, or signs where necessary to mark work areas. Positioning machinery, vehicles, and materials to avoid unnecessary obstruction of paths and access routes. Suspending work if conditions become unsafe for staff or the public.

Training, Communication, and Consultation

Gardeners Old Ford will provide appropriate induction and task-specific training to all staff. Health and safety responsibilities and procedures will be clearly communicated. Staff are encouraged to contribute ideas for improving safety and to raise concerns without fear of reprisal.

Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, incidents, and near misses must be reported to management as soon as possible. Records will be kept, and where necessary, investigations will be carried out to identify causes and implement corrective actions.

Staff will be made aware of emergency arrangements relevant to each site, including access routes for emergency services and any known local hazards. First aid provisions will be available and maintained.

Monitoring and Review

This health and safety policy will be monitored on an ongoing basis and formally reviewed at regular intervals, or following any significant incident or change in our operations. Where improvements are identified, procedures and training will be updated to enhance the safety of our gardening services.

By working cooperatively and following this policy, Gardeners Old Ford aims to deliver high quality gardening and grounds maintenance while safeguarding the wellbeing of everyone involved.