Health and Safety Policy for Gardeners Harold Park

Gardeners Harold Park is committed to providing gardening and grounds maintenance services in a way that protects the health, safety, and welfare of our clients, our team, members of the public, and anyone else affected by our work. This policy sets out our approach to managing risks, maintaining safe working practices, and continually improving our standards.

Our Health and Safety Commitments

We aim to deliver all gardening and landscape services in Harold Park and surrounding areas in a safe, professional, and responsible manner. To achieve this, Gardeners Harold Park will:

Identify, assess, and control risks associated with our gardening work, machinery, chemicals, and access to client properties.

Comply with relevant health and safety legislation and recognised industry best practice.

Provide appropriate information, instruction, and supervision to all team members.

Ensure that all work equipment is suitable, properly maintained, and used correctly.

Promote a culture where health and safety is everyone’s responsibility, and concerns can be raised without hesitation.

Management Responsibilities

Management at Gardeners Harold Park is responsible for putting this policy into practice and for ensuring adequate resources are available to maintain safe working conditions. This includes:

Conducting and reviewing risk assessments for typical gardening activities such as mowing, hedge cutting, pruning, planting, clearance, and waste handling.

Providing and maintaining personal protective equipment suitable for the tasks undertaken, such as gloves, eye and ear protection, footwear, high-visibility clothing, and respiratory protection where required.

Ensuring staff receive the necessary training and refresher training in safe systems of work, manual handling, machinery operation, and the safe use of gardening products and substances.

Investigating accidents, incidents, and near misses, taking corrective action to prevent recurrence.

Monitoring health and safety performance and updating this policy as operations develop or legislation changes.

Employee Responsibilities

Every team member working for Gardeners Harold Park has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. All employees and regular subcontractors are expected to:

Follow the training, procedures, and safe systems of work provided.

Use equipment and personal protective equipment as instructed and take care of it.

Report any defects in equipment, vehicles, tools, or protective equipment immediately.

Stop work and report concerns if they believe a task cannot be carried out safely.

Behave responsibly and not engage in horseplay or unsafe shortcuts that may put themselves or others at risk.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Gardeners Harold Park carries out risk assessments for routine and non-routine gardening tasks. These assessments guide our safe systems of work and are regularly reviewed. Examples of risk management measures include:

Planning work to avoid unnecessary working at height when trimming hedges or trees, and using suitable access equipment where needed.

Ensuring powered machinery such as lawn mowers, strimmers, hedge trimmers, and blowers are operated only by trained personnel.

Maintaining safe distances from other workers, clients, and members of the public during cutting, trimming, and clearance tasks.

Assessing ground conditions to prevent slips, trips, and falls, particularly when working on slopes, uneven surfaces, or in wet weather.

Managing manual handling risks by using correct lifting techniques, team lifting where appropriate, and mechanical aids where available.

Use of Chemicals and Hazardous Substances

When using fertilisers, weed control products, or other substances, Gardeners Harold Park will:

Only use products that are appropriate for domestic and commercial garden environments and that comply with relevant regulations.

Follow manufacturer instructions and safety data information for storage, handling, mixing, and application.

Ensure that personal protective equipment is worn where required to prevent skin contact, inhalation, or eye injury.

Prevent contamination of watercourses, drains, and neighbouring properties by controlling application and disposal.

Keep substances secure and out of reach of children, pets, and members of the public at all times.

Protection of Clients, the Public, and Property

Gardeners Harold Park takes particular care when working at client properties and in shared outdoor areas. We will:

Plan access and parking to minimise obstruction and maintain safe routes for pedestrians and vehicles.

Use barriers, signs, or verbal warnings where necessary to keep people away from active work zones.

Store tools and materials safely during and after work to prevent trips, cuts, and other injuries.

Take care to avoid damage to buildings, fences, vehicles, utilities, and neighbouring gardens while carrying out gardening tasks.

Remove or secure garden waste, clippings, and debris to reduce fire risks and prevent hazards.

Training, Supervision, and Competence

Gardeners Harold Park ensures that staff are competent to perform their roles safely. This is achieved through:

Induction training covering general health and safety, emergency procedures, and site-specific requirements.

Task-specific training for machinery use, chemical handling, working at height, and manual handling.

Ongoing supervision, particularly for new or inexperienced team members, until they are assessed as competent.

Refresher training and toolbox talks to reinforce safe working practices and introduce new methods or equipment.

Emergency Procedures and Incident Reporting

We have procedures in place to respond appropriately to accidents, injuries, ill health, or dangerous occurrences. Gardeners Harold Park will:

Ensure that appropriate first aid equipment is available for work teams.

Record details of accidents and incidents, and where required, report them in line with legal obligations.

Review each incident to identify root causes and implement improvements to prevent recurrence.

Cooperate with clients and relevant authorities in the event of a serious incident or emergency affecting a work site.

Review and Continuous Improvement

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes in our gardening services, new equipment, or updated legislation. Gardeners Harold Park is committed to continuous improvement in health and safety performance and welcomes feedback from clients, staff, and others who may be affected by our work.

By working together and following this policy, Gardeners Harold Park aims to maintain safe, healthy, and attractive outdoor spaces for all clients throughout Harold Park and the surrounding areas.