Health and Safety Policy — Gardening Services Heston

Purpose and scope: This Health and Safety Policy sets out the approach of our gardening services in Heston and surrounding service areas to protect employees, contractors, visitors and members of the public. The policy applies to all garden maintenance, landscaping, soft landscaping and groundskeeping activities performed by the gardening company, whether on private property or communal green spaces. It establishes minimum standards for risk management, training, equipment use and incident reporting to ensure a safe work environment.

Policy statement: We are committed to preventing work-related injury and ill health by identifying hazards, assessing risks and applying proportionate controls. The company will comply with applicable health and safety expectations and implement practical measures to reduce risks associated with powered equipment, manual handling, chemical use and traffic management.

Responsibilities and organisation

All staff, subcontractors and supervisors engaged by the gardening firm have defined responsibilities. Managers will ensure risk assessments are in place, appropriate resources are provided and staff receive adequate instruction, supervision and training. Employees must follow safe systems of work, use issued personal protective equipment (PPE) and report unsafe conditions or near-misses without delay.

Risk assessment and safe systems

Risk assessments will be carried out for routine tasks and specific site conditions. Assessments will consider seasonal hazards, uneven terrain, overhead services, public access and weather. Controls will follow the hierarchy: elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative controls and PPE. Safe systems of work will be documented for higher-risk tasks such as tree works, stump grinding, hedge cutting at height and use of herbicides and fertilizers.

Training and competence: staff will receive induction training, task-specific instruction and refresher training as required. Certification or proof of competence will be required for operation of chainsaws, ride-on mowers, shredders and petrol-powered equipment. Supervisors will monitor performance and ensure workers understand safe working procedures.

Equipment and maintenance: All machinery and tools will be maintained in safe, serviceable condition. Pre-use checks are mandatory. Faulty equipment will be taken out of service and reported. Powered machinery will be used with guards and safety devices in place. Fuel will be stored safely and refuelling carried out in designated areas with ignition sources controlled.

Personal protective equipment: Appropriate PPE—such as eye protection, hearing protection, gloves, hi-vis clothing, foot protection and head protection where required—will be issued and maintained. The company will ensure PPE is used correctly and replaced when worn or damaged. Employees are responsible for the correct use and care of issued PPE.

Control of hazardous substances: When using fertilizers, pesticides or other chemical products the company will follow product labels, safety data sheets and safe application procedures. Exposure will be minimised by using the least hazardous suitable product, correct application techniques and PPE. Storage and disposal of chemicals will be in line with good practice to prevent environmental contamination.

Traffic management and site segregation: For work near roads, driveways or pedestrian routes the gardening team will implement traffic management measures and barriers as appropriate to protect the public and workforce. Signage and temporary segregation will be used to maintain a safe perimeter around plant and machinery.

Emergency procedures and first aid: The company will provide access to first aid kits and appoint trained first aiders. Emergency procedures, including arrangements for summoning assistance and reporting incidents, will be communicated to staff. Accidents, incidents and near-misses will be reported and investigated to identify root causes and prevent recurrence. Records of training, risk assessments and incident reports will be retained for review.

Monitoring, review and continual improvement: Health and safety performance will be reviewed regularly through inspections, audits and toolbox talks. The policy will be reviewed at least annually or after significant change, incident or legislative update. Managers will act on audit findings and worker feedback to drive continual improvement across all gardening operations.

Enforcement and compliance: Non-compliance with this policy will be managed through supervision, retraining and, where necessary, disciplinary procedures. The company expects all staff to take personal responsibility for safety and to support a culture where hazards are identified and controlled proactively.

Contractors and subcontractors: Those engaged to provide specialist services must demonstrate appropriate competence, insurance and adherence to this policy. The hiring process will include verification of qualifications and evidence of safe working arrangements commensurate with the task.

Scope of application and limitations: This policy sets minimum standards for the landscaping and garden care activities performed by this gardening service in Heston and neighbouring areas. It is not a substitute for on-site risk assessments or task-specific safe systems of work, which must be completed before starting higher-risk activities.

Commitment statement: We are committed to maintaining a safe working environment for staff, clients and the public by applying sensible risk control measures and by investing in training, equipment and good supervision. The policy will be communicated to all staff and made available in a form they can understand.

Policy ownership and review: The policy is owned by senior management and will be reviewed regularly to reflect changes in work patterns, legislation or incidents. Employees are encouraged to raise safety concerns through established channels so that the gardening company can respond effectively and maintain high standards of safety and professionalism.

Signed on behalf of the organisation: (policy owner) — effective date and next review date will be recorded on the formal policy document retained internally.