Health and Safety Policy for Gardeners Lisson Grove

Gardeners Lisson Grove is committed to providing gardening and grounds care services in a way that protects the health, safety and welfare of our workers, clients, visitors and members of the public. This Health and Safety policy sets out our approach to planning, managing and monitoring safe working practices in gardens, outdoor spaces and related environments.

Policy Statement

Our aim is to prevent accidents, injuries and ill health arising from our gardening activities. We will identify and control risks, supply appropriate tools and equipment, provide information and training, and encourage a positive health and safety culture across all our work. Every person working with or for Gardeners Lisson Grove is expected to co-operate in implementing this policy and to take reasonable care for their own safety and the safety of others.

Management Responsibilities

Management is responsible for leading on health and safety within Gardeners Lisson Grove. This includes:

Ensuring that this policy is implemented, communicated and reviewed regularly.
Assessing risks associated with gardening services and introducing control measures.
Providing and maintaining safe equipment, tools and vehicles.
Making sure that workers are competent to do their tasks, and giving them appropriate instruction, information and training.
Ensuring that safe systems of work are followed on every job.
Investigating accidents, incidents and near misses, and taking action to prevent recurrence.
Allocating sufficient resources for health and safety, including time, equipment and supervision.

Employee and Contractor Responsibilities

All gardeners, employees, subcontractors and other persons engaged by Gardeners Lisson Grove have a duty to:

Work safely and follow the training and instructions provided.
Use tools, machinery, personal protective equipment and materials in a safe and responsible manner.
Report hazards, defects, near misses and unsafe conditions without delay.
Co-operate with management on all matters relating to health and safety.
Not misuse or interfere with anything provided for health, safety or welfare.
Respect the safety of clients, neighbours, the public and colleagues at all times.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Before starting work, we will consider the site-specific risks at gardens and outdoor spaces where we operate. This includes assessing:

Ground conditions, slopes, steps and uneven surfaces.
Access routes, vehicle movement and storage areas.
Nearby buildings, boundaries and public pathways.
Presence of underground or overhead services where relevant.
Use of chemicals, fertilisers and other substances.
Noise, dust, vibration and manual handling tasks.
Weather conditions and reduced visibility.

Where significant hazards are identified, we will put in place practical control measures, such as restricting access, adjusting work methods, providing protective equipment, or rescheduling activities where necessary. Our gardeners are briefed on these measures before commencing work.

Use of Tools, Machinery and Vehicles

Gardeners Lisson Grove will ensure that all equipment used for gardening work is suitable, maintained and operated safely. This includes lawnmowers, hedge trimmers, strimmers, blowers, hand tools, ladders and any vehicles or trailers used to transport equipment and waste.

Only trained and competent persons are permitted to use powered machinery. Pre-use checks are carried out and defects are reported promptly. Safety guards, emergency stops and other built-in safety features must never be removed or bypassed. Refuelling is carried out safely and away from ignition sources.

Chemicals and Substances

Where weedkillers, treatments or other substances are used, Gardeners Lisson Grove will follow safe handling and application procedures. Products are stored, mixed and applied in accordance with manufacturer instructions and relevant safety data information. Protective equipment is used where required, and care is taken to avoid contamination of soil, drains, ponds and neighbouring properties. Empty containers and surplus materials are disposed of responsibly.

Personal Protective Equipment

Appropriate personal protective equipment such as gloves, eye protection, hearing protection, sturdy footwear and high-visibility garments will be provided where risks cannot be adequately controlled by other means. Gardeners and other workers are expected to use the protective equipment supplied and to take care of it. Damaged or worn items must be reported and replaced promptly.

Manual Handling and Physical Wellbeing

Gardening work can involve lifting, carrying, digging and other physically demanding tasks. Gardeners Lisson Grove will aim to minimise manual handling risks by planning work, using mechanical aids where practicable and avoiding unnecessary heavy lifting. Staff are instructed in safe lifting techniques and encouraged to work at a steady pace, taking suitable rest breaks and staying hydrated, particularly in warm weather.

Public and Client Safety

We recognise our responsibility to protect clients, visitors, neighbours and members of the public from risks arising from our gardening operations. This includes:

Maintaining tidy work areas and keeping tools under control.
Using barriers or warning signs where appropriate.
Managing noise, dust and debris to reduce disturbance.
Securing gates and boundaries when leaving a site.
Ensuring that access routes remain clear where reasonably practicable.

Incident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, injuries, near misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported as soon as possible to management. Where necessary, emergency services will be contacted and first aid provided by a competent person. Incidents will be recorded and investigated to identify root causes and to help prevent recurrence. Emergency arrangements are discussed with workers and reviewed regularly.

Training, Communication and Consultation

Gardeners Lisson Grove will provide information, instruction and training relevant to the tasks being undertaken. New starters are given an introduction to our health and safety procedures. Ongoing training may include the safe use of machinery, correct handling of substances and best practice for working in gardens and outdoor spaces. We encourage open communication and consultation so that workers can raise suggestions or concerns about health and safety at any time.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

This Health and Safety policy will be monitored and reviewed at regular intervals, and whenever there are significant changes in our activities, working methods or relevant guidance. We are committed to continual improvement and to maintaining high standards of safety for everyone affected by our gardening work.

By working together and following this policy, Gardeners Lisson Grove aims to ensure that every project is carried out safely, responsibly and with respect for people and the environment.