Health and Safety Policy for Gardeners Aldborough Hatch

Gardeners Aldborough Hatch is committed to providing gardening and grounds maintenance services in a manner that safeguards the health, safety, and welfare of our clients, staff, visitors, contractors, and the wider public. This policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with horticultural work, landscaping, garden maintenance, and related activities across our service area.

Our objective is to prevent accidents, injuries, and ill health by identifying hazards, assessing risks, and implementing proportionate control measures. We comply with relevant health and safety legislation and recognised industry guidance, and we strive for continual improvement in our safety performance.

Management Responsibilities

Management at Gardeners Aldborough Hatch is responsible for establishing and maintaining this Health and Safety policy and for ensuring that adequate resources are provided to implement it. This includes provision for training, suitable equipment, protective clothing, and procedures for safe working.

Managers will ensure that risk assessments are carried out for all significant work activities, that control measures are implemented and monitored, and that staff understand their roles and responsibilities. Managers will review incidents, near misses, and feedback to identify areas for improvement and will update this policy as necessary.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees, contractors, and regular sub-contractors working on behalf of Gardeners Aldborough Hatch are required to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions.

Everyone is expected to follow training and instructions, use equipment and personal protective equipment correctly, and report hazards, defects, accidents, or near misses without delay. Failure to follow safe systems of work may result in disciplinary action or termination of contracts where appropriate.

Risk Assessments and Safe Working Practices

We undertake risk assessments for our typical gardening and landscaping activities, including lawn care, hedge and tree work within our competence, planting, clearance, use of power tools, application of products, and waste handling.

From these assessments, we develop safe systems of work tailored to the specific site and task. Staff are briefed on any site-specific risks, such as uneven ground, access routes, water features, overhead services, or public access. We review risk assessments periodically and whenever there is a significant change in our activities, equipment, or working environment.

Training and Competence

Gardeners Aldborough Hatch provides appropriate training to ensure that staff are competent to carry out their work safely. This includes induction training on general health and safety rules, instruction in the safe use of machinery and tools, manual handling techniques, and where applicable, training in the safe use of garden chemicals and powered equipment.

Only trained and authorised personnel may operate specific machinery such as lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, chainsaws within agreed scope, leaf blowers, and other powered tools. Additional specialist training will be provided for higher risk activities where required by law or good practice.

Personal Protective Equipment

We supply and maintain suitable personal protective equipment for the tasks undertaken. This may include protective footwear, gloves, eye and hearing protection, high visibility clothing, and respiratory protection when necessary.

Staff are required to wear the specified protective equipment whenever indicated by risk assessment or instruction. They must take care of the equipment provided, store it appropriately, and report any loss or damage so that it can be repaired or replaced.

Safe Use of Tools, Machinery, and Vehicles

All tools and machinery used by Gardeners Aldborough Hatch are selected, maintained, and inspected to ensure they are safe and suitable for their intended purpose. We follow manufacturers instructions for use, maintenance, and storage.

Powered equipment will not be used if guards, safety devices, or controls are missing or defective. Regular checks are carried out, and equipment found to be unsafe is removed from service until repaired or replaced.

Company vehicles and trailers are operated only by authorised and appropriately licensed drivers. Loads are secured, and vehicles are driven with consideration for road safety and local conditions, particularly when entering and leaving customer properties.

Chemical and Product Safety

When using garden products such as fertilisers, pesticides, and weed killers, we follow all legal requirements, product labels, and safety data sheets. Only trained and authorised staff may handle or apply such products.

We aim to minimise the use of potentially harmful substances and consider alternatives where practicable. Storage, mixing, application, and disposal of chemicals are managed to prevent harm to people, pets, wildlife, and the environment.

Manual Handling and Physical Work

Gardening involves regular lifting, bending, carrying, and repetitive movements. To reduce the risk of strains and injuries, we assess manual handling tasks, avoid unnecessary lifting, and use mechanical aids or additional personnel where feasible.

Staff receive guidance on safe lifting techniques and on recognising their own limits. Heavy or awkward loads, such as large bags of soil, paving materials, or bulky waste, are handled with appropriate support and planning.

Public, Client, and Property Safety

We take reasonable steps to protect clients, visitors, neighbours, and the general public from risks arising from our work. This may include establishing safe working zones, using warning signs or barriers, and scheduling high risk operations to minimise public exposure.

We exercise care when working near buildings, vehicles, boundaries, utilities, and garden features to avoid damage. Any damage or incident is reported promptly and managed in a professional manner.

Emergency Procedures and Incident Reporting

Gardeners Aldborough Hatch maintains basic emergency arrangements suitable for the nature of our work. Staff are informed of procedures in case of accidents, injuries, fire, adverse weather, or other emergencies. First aid kits are accessible, and at least one person on site will have basic first aid awareness where practicable.

All accidents, near misses, and hazardous occurrences must be reported without delay to management. We investigate incidents to identify root causes and to prevent recurrence, and we keep appropriate records in line with legal requirements.

Environmental and Community Considerations

We recognise the close relationship between health, safety, and environmental stewardship in gardening. We seek to reduce noise, dust, and disturbance, manage green waste responsibly, and protect wildlife habitats, watercourses, and soil quality.

Work is planned to minimise disruption to clients and neighbours, including considerate use of noisy machinery and responsible working hours, in line with local expectations and regulations.

Monitoring, Review, and Continuous Improvement

This Health and Safety policy is monitored on an ongoing basis and reviewed regularly to ensure it remains effective and up to date. Feedback from staff and clients, together with lessons learned from inspections and incidents, informs our continuous improvement.

Gardeners Aldborough Hatch expects everyone involved in our operations to support the implementation of this policy and to contribute to a positive culture of safety, care, and professionalism in all gardening and maintenance services we provide.