Health & Safety Policy for Gardening Services Sidcup

Policy statement

Gardening Services Sidcup is committed to protecting the health, safety and welfare of all staff, contractors, clients and the public while delivering professional garden maintenance and landscaping services in and around the Sidcup area. This policy sets out principles and procedures to minimise risk, maintain compliance with generally accepted safety standards and ensure safe working practices for all aspects of our horticultural operations.

Scope and application

This policy applies to all employees, subcontractors and temporary staff engaged by the company for garden care, landscaping, hedge cutting, lawn treatment and related outdoor works. It covers routine maintenance, project work, waste handling, use of powered equipment and working in client properties and public spaces. The policy is designed to be practical for local gardeners and for teams providing Sidcup gardening services while avoiding undue detail about local regulations; it emphasises safe systems of work and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities Company management is responsible for resourcing safe systems, providing information and ensuring that risk assessments and method statements are available. Supervisors and team leaders must ensure safe working practices are followed on site. Every worker has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and to report hazards or incidents promptly.

Training & competence – All staff involved in garden maintenance, landscaping and tree or hedge work will receive appropriate induction, on-the-job training and periodic refresher training. Training topics include equipment operation (mowers, strimmers, chainsaws), safe pesticide and fertiliser handling, manual handling techniques, traffic management when working roadside and first aid. Records of training and certifications are maintained and reviewed.

Risk assessment and safe systems

Before starting any job, a documented risk assessment will be carried out to identify hazards and control measures. Typical controls include:

• Use of exclusion zones and signage when operating machinery
• Pre-start equipment checks and maintenance records
• Weather-related adjustments to work scheduling
• Safe access and egress for staff and vehicles
• Assessment of biological risks such as ticks, bees and plant allergens

These measures apply to all garden care activities delivered by our local gardening teams.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) – Suitable PPE must be provided and worn where required. Typical PPE includes safety boots, gloves, eye and ear protection, hi-vis clothing and respiratory protection when spraying or dusty work is undertaken. Supervisors will ensure PPE is used correctly and replaced when worn.

Equipment, vehicles and machinery – All powered tools and vehicles used during garden and landscaping services will be maintained according to manufacturers' guidance. Pre-use checks are mandatory. Manual handling aids and safe lifting practice reduce injury risk. Battery-powered and low-emission equipment are promoted where appropriate to reduce noise and fumes during residential garden projects.

Hazardous substances and environmental protection

The safe use, storage and disposal of herbicides, pesticides and other chemicals are controlled by labelled containers, up-to-date COSHH-type records and application only by trained personnel. Waste material, green waste and hazardous residues are handled and disposed of responsibly to avoid pollution and protect client properties and local habitats.

Emergency procedures and first aid

All staff will be informed of site-specific emergency arrangements including first aid, fire procedures and how to summon additional assistance. First aid kits are provided in vehicles and depots. Incidents and near misses must be reported immediately to allow corrective action and prevent recurrence. Returning employees to safe duties after an incident is managed with care and support.

Monitoring and review – Regular safety inspections, toolbox talks and management reviews will monitor implementation of this policy. Accident records, incident investigations and safety audits inform continuous improvement. Performance indicators such as training completion, equipment check compliance and incident frequency are used to measure effectiveness.

Policy maintenance – This health and safety policy is reviewed at least annually and updated whenever there are significant changes to operations, equipment or workforce. It supports high-quality garden maintenance, landscaping, and other gardening services in the Sidcup locality while ensuring a consistent approach to worker and public safety. Everyone engaged in delivering our gardening solutions is required to familiarise themselves with this policy and to contribute to a safe working culture.