Health and Safety Policy for Gardeners Addiscombe

Gardeners Addiscombe is committed to providing gardening and grounds care services in a manner that safeguards the health, safety and welfare of our employees, contractors, clients, visitors and members of the public. This policy sets out our approach to identifying, managing and reducing risks associated with gardening work and the use of tools, machinery and vehicles.

Our Health and Safety Objectives

Our primary objective is to prevent injury, ill health and damage to property or the environment arising from our activities. We aim to achieve this by maintaining safe systems of work, ensuring competent supervision, and fostering a culture where safety is an integral part of all gardening tasks.

Legal Duties and Compliance

Gardeners Addiscombe complies with all relevant health and safety legislation applicable to gardening, landscaping and grounds maintenance. We keep abreast of changes to regulations and industry best practices and adapt our working procedures accordingly. All employees and contractors are required to cooperate with these legal and company requirements at all times.

Roles and Responsibilities

The management of Gardeners Addiscombe has overall responsibility for implementing this policy, allocating appropriate resources and ensuring that health and safety remains a core business priority. Supervisors are responsible for day to day enforcement of safe working practices, carrying out checks on equipment and monitoring site conditions.

Every employee and contractor has a duty to work safely, follow instructions and training, use protective equipment correctly and report hazards, incidents or near misses without delay. Clients and site occupants are expected to cooperate with reasonable health and safety measures, including allowing us safe access, keeping children and pets away from active work areas and adhering to any temporary restrictions during our work.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Before work starts, Gardeners Addiscombe will assess the potential hazards associated with each site and task. Typical risks may include slips, trips and falls, working on uneven ground, manual handling of soil, plants and waste, use of sharp tools, powered equipment and machinery, exposure to noise and vibrations, and use of chemicals such as weed killers or fertilisers.

Based on these assessments, we develop and apply safe systems of work that include selecting appropriate tools, planning access routes, setting exclusion zones where necessary, and scheduling tasks to avoid unnecessary exposure to adverse weather or poor visibility.

Training, Information and Supervision

All gardeners and operatives receive training appropriate to their role, including induction training on our health and safety policy, safe use of hand tools and powered machinery, safe manual handling techniques, and correct use of personal protective equipment. Staff operating specialist machinery receive additional, task specific instruction.

Supervision is provided in line with the level of risk and the experience of the operative. New or less experienced staff are closely supervised until they demonstrate competence in carrying out tasks safely and consistently.

Use of Tools, Machinery and Vehicles

Gardeners Addiscombe ensures that all tools, machinery and vehicles are suitable for the intended use, maintained in good working order and inspected at regular intervals. Defective or unsafe equipment is removed from service immediately. Only trained and authorised personnel are permitted to operate powered equipment such as lawn mowers, strimmers, hedge trimmers, chainsaws and similar machinery.

When transporting equipment and materials, vehicles are loaded safely, with items secured to prevent movement or falling. Care is taken when moving vehicles in residential areas and shared spaces, and reversing is minimised or controlled with assistance where visibility is limited.

Personal Protective Equipment

Where risks cannot be eliminated through other control measures, Gardeners Addiscombe provides and requires the use of appropriate personal protective equipment. This may include safety footwear, gloves, eye and ear protection, high visibility clothing, respiratory protection for dusty tasks and protective clothing for chemical handling.

Employees and contractors are responsible for using the equipment provided, keeping it in good condition and reporting any loss or damage so that replacements can be arranged promptly.

Chemicals, Substances and Environmental Protection

When using garden chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers, we follow manufacturer instructions and relevant safety guidance. Chemicals are stored securely and transported safely to prevent spills, leaks or unauthorised access. Application is planned to minimise exposure to people, pets and wildlife and to avoid contamination of neighbouring property, watercourses or drains.

We aim to use environmentally responsible methods wherever reasonably practicable, including manual weed removal and lower impact products, while still achieving the service levels expected by clients.

Manual Handling and Ergonomics

Many gardening tasks involve lifting, carrying and repetitive movements. Gardeners Addiscombe reduces the risk of strain and injury by planning lifts, using mechanical aids where possible, splitting heavy loads into smaller quantities and rotating tasks to avoid prolonged repetition. Staff are trained to use safe lifting techniques and to seek help with awkward or heavy items.

Site Safety, Public Protection and Householder Cooperation

We take reasonable steps to keep work areas tidy and free from avoidable hazards such as trailing cables, obstructive waste and unattended tools. Where work may impact the public or householders, we use barriers, signage or verbal warnings as appropriate.

Clients can support safety by informing us of any known hazards such as unstable structures, hidden ponds, buried services, or previous chemical treatments, and by maintaining clear access routes. We may decline or suspend work if conditions are unsafe or if required control measures cannot be implemented.

Incident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, injuries, near misses and hazardous occurrences must be reported to management as soon as practicable. We investigate incidents to identify underlying causes and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence. Emergency procedures, including first aid arrangements and responses to fire, chemical spills or serious injury, are communicated to staff and reviewed regularly.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

Gardeners Addiscombe monitors health and safety performance through site checks, equipment inspections, training reviews and incident analysis. This policy and associated procedures are reviewed periodically, and whenever significant changes occur in our activities, equipment or legal requirements.

By working together with our staff, contractors and clients, Gardeners Addiscombe strives to maintain a safe and healthy environment while delivering high quality gardening and grounds care services.