Health and Safety Policy for Gardeners Coombe

Gardeners Coombe is committed to providing gardening and grounds care services in a way that protects the health, safety and welfare of our employees, subcontractors, clients, visitors and members of the public. We recognise that high standards of health and safety are essential to delivering reliable and professional horticultural services in every outdoor space we maintain.

Policy Statement and Objectives

The objective of this Health and Safety Policy is to prevent injury, ill health, and property damage arising from our work activities. We will provide safe systems of work, safe equipment and machinery, and competent personnel who are appropriately trained and supervised.

We aim to continually improve our health and safety performance by identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing effective control measures for all gardening and landscape maintenance tasks, including lawn care, planting, pruning, hedge cutting, tree-related work, use of powered machinery and handling of garden chemicals.

Management Responsibilities

The management of Gardeners Coombe is responsible for implementing this policy and ensuring that adequate resources are made available for health and safety. Management will:

Set clear safety standards for all gardening operations and monitor performance against those standards. Provide and maintain safe equipment, tools, vehicles and personal protective equipment suitable for the tasks undertaken. Ensure that all employees and subcontractors receive appropriate information, instruction, training and supervision. Review and update risk assessments and safe working procedures on a regular basis and whenever new methods, equipment or substances are introduced. Investigate accidents, incidents and near misses to identify root causes and take corrective and preventive action.

Employee Responsibilities

Every employee and subcontractor working on behalf of Gardeners Coombe has a duty to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions. All personnel are required to:

Follow the instructions and safe systems of work provided by Gardeners Coombe. Use equipment, tools, vehicles, and personal protective equipment in accordance with training and manufacturer instructions. Report hazards, defects, accidents, incidents and near misses to their supervisor or manager as soon as possible. Refrain from misusing or interfering with anything provided for health, safety or welfare. Present themselves fit for work, never working under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any substance that may impair their ability to work safely.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Gardeners Coombe carries out risk assessments for all significant hazards associated with our gardening and grounds maintenance activities. These include, but are not limited to, the use of power tools and machinery, working at height, manual handling, exposure to noise and vibration, use of garden chemicals and working in public or shared spaces.

From these assessments we develop safe working procedures to control risks as far as reasonably practicable. Staff are briefed on relevant risks and controls before starting work, including site-specific considerations such as access routes, uneven ground, slopes, water features and the presence of clients, pedestrians or vehicles.

Use of Tools, Machinery and Vehicles

All machinery, powered tools and vehicles used by Gardeners Coombe will be suitable for the task, properly maintained and regularly inspected. Only trained and authorised personnel may operate powered equipment such as mowers, strimmers, hedge cutters, blowers, chainsaws or ride-on machinery.

Pre-use checks must be completed before equipment is used. Any defects, unusual noises or safety concerns must be reported immediately and the equipment taken out of service until it has been checked and repaired by a competent person. Machinery guards and safety features must never be removed or bypassed.

Personal Protective Equipment

Gardeners Coombe provides personal protective equipment appropriate to the work undertaken. This may include safety footwear, gloves, eye protection, hearing protection, high-visibility clothing, helmets and respiratory protection where necessary.

Employees must wear PPE when required, keep it in good condition, and report any damage, loss or faults so that replacements can be arranged. PPE is considered a last line of defence and is used in conjunction with other control measures identified through risk assessments.

Manual Handling and Ergonomics

Many gardening tasks involve lifting, carrying, digging and repetitive movements. Gardeners Coombe aims to reduce the risks of musculoskeletal injury by planning work to minimise heavy or awkward lifting, using mechanical aids or team lifting where appropriate, and rotating tasks to avoid prolonged repetition.

Employees receive guidance on safe manual handling techniques, including correct posture, load assessment and use of appropriate tools to reduce strain.

Chemicals, Substances and Environmental Hazards

Where garden chemicals or other hazardous substances are used, Gardeners Coombe will follow supplier safety data information and applicable regulations. Only trained personnel may handle, mix or apply such substances.

Chemicals will be stored securely, clearly labelled and used at the correct dilution rates. Measures are taken to prevent harm to people, plants, wildlife and watercourses, including careful planning of application, consideration of weather conditions and appropriate disposal of waste and containers.

Working With the Public and on Client Premises

Much of our work is carried out in residential gardens, shared grounds and other areas accessible to the public. Gardeners Coombe will plan work to minimise risks to clients, visitors and passers-by by:

Using clear communication with clients regarding planned activities and any short-term restrictions on access. Setting up exclusion zones or barriers where necessary, especially when using cutting machinery or working at height. Maintaining a tidy work area and ensuring tools and materials are not left in walkways or other hazardous positions.

Training, Communication and Consultation

Gardeners Coombe provides appropriate induction and ongoing training on health and safety matters relevant to our gardening operations. This may include equipment operation, use of PPE, safe manual handling, chemical safety and emergency procedures.

We encourage open communication and consultation on health and safety. Employees are invited to raise concerns, suggest improvements and participate in discussions about safer ways of working. Information is shared through briefings, toolbox talks and regular reviews.

Accidents, Incidents and Emergencies

All accidents, injuries, dangerous occurrences and near misses must be reported promptly so that appropriate medical assistance can be obtained and investigations carried out. Records of incidents are kept and reviewed to identify trends and areas for improvement.

Emergency arrangements, including first aid, fire safety, and response to adverse weather, are communicated to staff. Where work is carried out on client premises, site-specific emergency information will be obtained and followed.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

Gardeners Coombe will monitor health and safety performance through inspections, reviews of incident reports and feedback from employees and clients. This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and updated as necessary to reflect changes in legislation, industry standards, our services or work practices.

By following this policy, Gardeners Coombe seeks to maintain safe and well-managed gardens and outdoor spaces while protecting everyone involved in or affected by our work.