Health And Safety Policy

Gardeners Keston Health and Safety Policy

Gardeners Keston is committed to providing gardening and grounds maintenance services in a way that safeguards the health, safety and welfare of our employees, subcontractors, clients, visitors and members of the public. We aim to meet or exceed all relevant health and safety legislation and accepted industry best practice for professional gardening services.

Policy Objectives

The objectives of this Health and Safety Policy are to prevent injury, ill health and property damage arising from our work activities, to identify and control risks associated with gardening and grounds maintenance tasks, and to promote a positive health and safety culture throughout our organisation and on every site where we work.

Management Responsibilities

The management of Gardeners Keston has overall responsibility for health and safety. This includes ensuring that suitable resources are made available, that safe systems of work are developed and implemented, and that this policy is regularly reviewed and updated. Management will actively promote safe behaviour, lead by example and ensure that health and safety considerations are central to planning and delivering our services.

Managers and supervisors are responsible for carrying out risk assessments, communicating the findings to all relevant personnel, providing appropriate training and supervision, and ensuring that agreed control measures are followed on every job. They must promptly investigate accidents, incidents and near misses and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees and regular subcontractors of Gardeners Keston have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions. They must cooperate fully with management in implementing this policy and with any instructions, safety rules or procedures related to their work.

Employees must use equipment, tools and personal protective equipment correctly, report hazards, defects or unsafe conditions as soon as they are identified, and refrain from engaging in horseplay or any behaviour that may put themselves or others at risk. Everyone is encouraged to raise health and safety concerns without fear of criticism or reprisal.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Before commencing gardening or maintenance work, suitable and sufficient risk assessments will be carried out to identify foreseeable hazards such as slips and trips, manual handling, use of machinery, exposure to noise and vibration, working near roads, water or uneven ground, and exposure to hazardous plants or substances.

Based on these assessments, safe systems of work will be developed and communicated to all staff involved. These will include clear instructions on how to perform tasks safely, what protective measures must be in place, what equipment should be used, and how to respond in an emergency. Risk assessments will be reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes to work activities, equipment or locations.

Training, Instruction and Supervision

Gardeners Keston will ensure that all employees receive appropriate health and safety training for their roles, including induction training, task-specific instruction and refresher training when required. Training will cover safe use of gardening tools and machinery, manual handling techniques, safe handling of chemicals, awareness of environmental hazards and emergency procedures.

Only competent and authorised individuals will be permitted to use powered machinery such as lawn mowers, strimmers, hedge trimmers, chainsaws, blowers and other specialist equipment. Adequate supervision will be provided, particularly for new starters and less experienced staff, to ensure that safe working practices are consistently followed.

Tools, Machinery and Personal Protective Equipment

All tools and machinery used by Gardeners Keston will be suitable for their intended purpose, properly maintained, and inspected at appropriate intervals. Defective or damaged equipment will be removed from service immediately and either repaired by a competent person or replaced. Equipment will be used in accordance with manufacturers instructions and relevant safety guidance.

Personal protective equipment will be provided where necessary, which may include safety footwear, gloves, eye protection, hearing protection, high visibility clothing, helmets and respiratory protection. Employees must wear and look after the protective equipment issued to them and report any loss, damage or defects so that it can be replaced without delay.

Use of Chemicals and Hazardous Substances

Where herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers or other hazardous substances are used, Gardeners Keston will follow safe handling, storage and application procedures. Substances will be assessed for risk and used only by trained personnel. Appropriate protective equipment will be provided and used, and measures will be taken to protect clients, the public, wildlife and watercourses from contamination.

All containers will be clearly labelled and stored securely when not in use. Waste materials and empty containers will be disposed of in a safe and environmentally responsible manner, in line with legal requirements and good practice for gardening businesses.

Manual Handling and Physical Wellbeing

Gardening can involve significant physical effort, including lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling and repetitive movements. Gardeners Keston will seek to minimise manual handling risks by using mechanical aids, planning work to avoid unnecessary lifting, and ensuring loads are kept within safe limits.

Employees will receive guidance on correct lifting and handling techniques and are expected to follow this guidance at all times. Where tasks present a significant manual handling risk, assistance must be sought and no one should attempt to move loads that are beyond their capability.

Public Safety and Site Management

When working at client properties, public spaces or communal areas, Gardeners Keston will take reasonable steps to protect clients, visitors and members of the public from work-related hazards. This may include setting up barriers or warning signs, cordoning off work areas, scheduling high-risk tasks at quieter times and maintaining clear access routes where possible.

Machinery will never be left running and unattended, and sharp tools will be stored safely when not in use. Vehicles and trailers will be parked and loaded in a way that minimises risk to other road users and pedestrians.

Environmental Considerations

Gardeners Keston recognises that protecting the environment is closely linked with good health and safety practice. We will strive to minimise pollution, control noise and dust, avoid unnecessary disturbance of wildlife and habitats, and manage green waste responsibly. Where feasible, we will recycle or reuse materials and encourage sustainable gardening techniques.

Accidents, Incidents and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, incidents, near misses and cases of work-related ill health must be reported as soon as possible to management so that they can be recorded and investigated. Appropriate first aid arrangements will be in place, and staff will know how to summon assistance in an emergency.

Lessons learned from accidents and near misses will be used to improve our procedures and reduce the likelihood of recurrence. Where required by law, incidents will be reported to the relevant authorities.

Review of this Policy

This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed regularly and updated when necessary to reflect changes in legislation, industry guidance, our work activities or organisational structure. Gardeners Keston is committed to continuous improvement in health and safety performance and expects the cooperation of all employees, subcontractors, clients and partners in achieving this aim.