Health and Safety Policy for Gardening Services Bermondsey

Purpose: This Health and Safety policy sets out the principles and practical arrangements for safe working by our Gardening Services Bermondsey team. It applies to all staff, contractors and sub-contractors involved in garden maintenance, landscape works and horticultural services across the service area. The policy aims to protect employees, clients, members of the public and property by reducing risks associated with routine garden work.

Scope: The policy covers common activities provided by our Bermondsey gardening services, including hedge trimming, lawn care, pruning, planting, turfing, waste removal and light landscaping. It applies equally to site visits, domestic gardens and small commercial grounds where safe systems of work are required.

Responsibilities: Management is responsible for implementing and maintaining this safety policy. Supervisors and team leaders must ensure that safe working methods are followed. All staff and operatives are required to cooperate, take reasonable care for their own safety and report hazards or incidents promptly. Clients and residents should be informed of planned works that may affect public access or create temporary hazards.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Before starting any job a competent person will carry out a risk assessment to identify hazards and implement control measures. Assessments will consider electrical tools, moving machinery, working at height, manual handling, pesticides and weather-related risks. The output will inform the method statement and required personal protective equipment for each task performed by our garden maintenance Bermondsey crews.

PPE, Equipment and Maintenance

All employees must wear appropriate PPE including gloves, eye protection, hi-vis where applicable, sturdy footwear and hearing protection for noisy equipment. Tools and machinery, such as mowers, strimmers and chainsaws, will be inspected before use, maintained according to manufacturers' guidance and removed from service if defective. Portable appliance checks will be documented and any electrical risks controlled by RCDs or isolations.

Hazardous Substances: Use of herbicides, pesticides and fuels will be minimised and managed in line with safety data sheets. COSHH principles will be applied: substitute less hazardous products where possible, store chemicals securely, provide spill kits and ensure operatives are trained in safe handling and disposal procedures.

Manual Handling and Working Practices: Safe lifting techniques will be promoted and mechanical aids provided for heavy or repetitive tasks. Job rotation will be used to reduce strain injuries. When pruning or using ladders, a suitable plan for access and egress will be implemented, and ladders will be secured by a second person where practicable. Our Bermondsey garden service operatives are trained to recognise unstable trees and to stop work if a task exceeds competence.

Traffic, Public Safety and Site Management Where work is near roads or public thoroughfares, risk controls such as cones, signage and localised cordons will be used to protect the public. Waste and debris will be cleared promptly and materials stacked safely. Communication with clients about scheduled works helps reduce unexpected public interaction and ensures safe access and egress.

Lone Working and Personal Security: Lone working is discouraged for high-risk activities. If lone working is unavoidable, managers will assess risks, provide a check-in system and emergency procedures. Mobile phones or radios must be carried and operatives trained in personal safety and how to summon assistance.

Incident Reporting and First Aid: All accidents, near misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported immediately to a supervisor and recorded. First aid kits will be available on-site and at company vehicles. Designated first aiders will be identified and kept up to date. In the event of a serious incident, emergency services will be contacted and scenes preserved until investigations are complete.

Training, Competence and Supervision

Staff will receive induction training, job-specific instruction and periodic refresher training to maintain competence in safe work methods. Training records will be retained and reviewed as part of performance checks. Supervisors will carry out routine observations to ensure compliance and provide coaching where improvements are needed. Contractors engaged to perform specialist tasks must demonstrate adequate qualifications and safety performance.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

The safety management system will be monitored through site inspections, toolbox talks and regular reviews of incidents and near-misses. This policy will be reviewed at least annually or following significant changes to operations, equipment or legislation. Our commitment is to continually improve health and safety performance so that our Bermondsey gardeners can work in a healthy, safe and respectful environment.