Gardeners Leamouth Health and Safety Policy

This health and safety policy sets out how Gardeners Leamouth manages risks and promotes safe working practices across all gardening and grounds care activities. Our aim is to prevent accidents, protect people, and maintain healthy working conditions for staff, clients, visitors and members of the public.

We are committed to complying with all applicable health and safety legislation and recognised industry guidance. Health and safety considerations form an integral part of planning, carrying out and reviewing our gardening services.

Our Health and Safety Objectives

Gardeners Leamouth is committed to the following key objectives:

To provide and maintain safe systems of work for all gardening and landscaping operations.

To identify hazards, assess risks and implement effective control measures before work begins.

To ensure that staff are competent to perform their tasks through information, instruction, training and supervision.

To supply and maintain safe equipment, tools, vehicles and substances.

To prevent injury, ill health and property damage arising from our activities.

To monitor, review and continually improve our health and safety performance.

Roles and Responsibilities

Overall responsibility for health and safety within Gardeners Leamouth rests with management, who ensure that adequate resources are made available to implement this policy.

Managers are responsible for:

Ensuring that risk assessments and method statements are prepared and kept up to date for all relevant gardening tasks.

Providing appropriate training, instruction and supervision for staff.

Supplying suitable personal protective equipment and checking it is used correctly.

Investigating accidents, incidents and near misses and implementing remedial actions.

Employees and contractors are responsible for:

Taking reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.

Following all safety procedures, instructions and training provided.

Using equipment and protective gear correctly and reporting defects immediately.

Reporting hazards, accidents and near misses without delay.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Before starting work at any garden or outdoor site, Gardeners Leamouth will evaluate the specific risks present and agree safe working methods suitable for that environment.

Risk assessments will consider, as appropriate, the following hazards and more:

Use of powered machinery such as lawnmowers, strimmers, hedge trimmers and blowers.

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

Slips, trips and falls on uneven, wet or obstructed surfaces.

Working at height, including use of ladders, steps and access equipment.

Exposure to noise, vibration, dust, chemicals, organic matter and weather conditions.

Interactions with clients, neighbours, pets and members of the public.

Safe systems of work will be developed from these assessments and communicated clearly to all staff involved.

Training, Competence and Supervision

Gardeners Leamouth ensures that personnel are competent to undertake the gardening tasks assigned to them.

Training may include:

Induction training covering general health and safety rules, emergency procedures and incident reporting.

Task specific training on the safe use, maintenance and storage of tools, machinery and materials.

Instruction on safe manual handling techniques and avoidance of repetitive strain.

Guidance on use, care and limitations of personal protective equipment.

New or inexperienced staff will be supervised until they are judged competent to work safely on their own.

Equipment, Machinery and Personal Protective Equipment

All machinery and equipment used by Gardeners Leamouth will be suitable for the task, maintained in good condition and operated by trained personnel only.

We will ensure that:

Tools and machinery are inspected regularly and removed from service if found to be defective.

Safety guards, switches and other protective features are in place and functional.

Fuel, oils and other substances are stored and handled safely.

Personal protective equipment, such as gloves, eye protection, hearing protection, high visibility clothing and safety footwear, is provided where necessary and used correctly.

Control of Substances and Environmental Hazards

When using gardening products, such as fertilisers, soil improvers, pesticides or cleaning agents, Gardeners Leamouth will assess potential risks and adopt safe handling and application methods.

We will follow manufacturer instructions, minimise exposure, avoid unnecessary chemical use and take care to protect soil, water and wildlife. Waste materials, including green waste, packaging and discarded products, will be managed responsibly and removed from site promptly where required.

Client and Public Safety

Gardeners Leamouth recognises its responsibility to protect clients, visitors, neighbours and the wider public from risks associated with our gardening work.

Measures include:

Agreeing site access, working hours and any restricted areas with clients in advance.

Ensuring tools, cables and machinery do not create unnecessary trip or impact hazards.

Using barriers, signage or temporary exclusions when high risk tasks are taking place.

Leaving work areas tidy and as free as reasonably practicable from hazards at the end of each visit.

Accidents, Incidents and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, injuries, near misses and dangerous occurrences are to be reported as soon as possible. Gardeners Leamouth will record and investigate these events to determine root causes and prevent recurrence.

Staff will be briefed on relevant emergency arrangements, including first aid provisions, contact details for emergency services and site specific arrangements agreed with clients if needed. Vehicles will carry basic first aid supplies appropriate to the type of gardening work undertaken.

Monitoring, Review and Policy Updates

Gardeners Leamouth will monitor health and safety performance through site checks, feedback from staff and clients, and review of accident and incident records. Where improvements are identified, systems and procedures will be updated accordingly.

This health and safety policy will be reviewed regularly and revised as necessary to reflect changes in legislation, guidance, working practices or the nature of our gardening services. The latest version will be made available to staff and clients on request.

By working together, Gardeners Leamouth, its staff, clients and partners can ensure that all gardening projects are carried out in a safe, responsible and professional manner.