Gardeners East Ham — Health and Safety Policy

This Health and Safety Policy sets out the commitment of Gardeners East Ham and associated teams to maintain a safe working environment for staff, clients and the public. The purpose is to provide clear, practical measures for risk reduction, safe working practices and continuous improvement across all gardening operations. All employees and contractors are expected to read and follow this policy, and line managers must ensure that it is properly applied in day-to-day activities. The policy applies to routine garden maintenance, landscaping work, hedge cutting, tree care and other horticultural services provided by our gardening company in East Ham and surrounding areas.

Scope: This policy covers risk assessment, training, equipment maintenance, personal protective equipment (PPE), hazardous substance handling and emergency response. It reflects the responsibilities of the management of this East Ham gardening company and the duties of every worker, from trainees to supervisors. Our approach is practical: reduce hazards where we can, control risks that remain and provide clear instructions and supervision for higher-risk tasks. The policy is designed for implementation across small domestic gardens to larger communal green spaces.

Responsibilities: Management will provide resources, competence checks and regular safety briefings. Supervisors and team leaders will ensure that Gardeners in East Ham receive appropriate training and that safe systems of work are documented. Individual staff must report unsafe conditions, use PPE, and follow safe procedures. Contractors working with the company must comply with the same standards and demonstrate evidence of competence before starting work on site. We will maintain records of training, incidents and equipment checks to support ongoing safety management.

Risk assessment and safe systems of work

Risk assessments are central to preventing injury. For each task our East Ham gardeners perform we will identify hazards, evaluate risk and implement controls. Typical hazards include cuts from blades, manual handling strain, noise exposure, vibration from powered tools, slips, trips and falls, falling objects during tree work, and contact with hazardous substances such as fuels and pesticides. Controls include tool guards, exclusion zones, mechanical aids for lifting, rotation of duties to limit exposure, and clearly marked work areas to protect members of the public.

Personal Protective Equipment and equipment safety: We supply and require use of appropriate PPE including gloves, eye protection, hearing protection, hi-vis clothing and safety boots. All powered equipment must be inspected before use, maintained according to manufacturer guidance and only operated by trained personnel. Fuel handling must be done with spill control measures and safe containers; batteries and chargers for cordless tools must be stored safely and inspected regularly. The policy emphasises conservative maintenance schedules and immediate reporting of faults.

Manual handling, ladders and vehicle safety

Manual lifting is a common source of injury in garden work. Team members will use mechanical aids where possible and apply safe lifting techniques taught during training. Ladder work will follow safe working heights guidance and use of fall control measures when needed. Vehicles and trailers used by the gardening service will be loaded safely, with securement of tools and materials to prevent shifting. Drivers must ensure that load limits are observed and that vehicles are roadworthy before departure.

Hazardous substances and plant protection: The use of herbicides, pesticides and fertilisers will be controlled. Substances must be stored in labelled containers, and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) will be available to staff. Only authorised persons will apply chemical treatments, following the product label and protective measures. The gardening company East Ham expects strict adherence to dilution rates and environmental precautions to protect waterways and non-target plants. Spills are to be dealt with immediately using absorbent materials and reported in line with the incident procedure.

Training and competence: Ongoing training is vital. All staff will receive induction covering basic safety, company procedures and emergency response. Specific training for chainsaws, hedge cutters, pesticide application and vehicle operation will be provided and refreshed periodically. Supervisors will assess competence before allowing independent work and maintain training records. East Ham gardeners will have access to toolbox talks and refresher sessions to reinforce safe practices and update on any procedural changes.

Emergency procedures, incident reporting and first aid: An emergency plan will be in place for all sites, including procedures for serious injuries, fire and chemical exposure. First aid kits will be maintained in vehicles and at the main storage location, with trained first-aiders assigned where possible. All incidents, near misses and unsafe conditions must be reported promptly so that corrective actions can be taken. We will investigate significant incidents to identify root causes and prevent recurrence.

Monitoring, review and continuous improvement: The health and safety performance of the gardening service area will be reviewed regularly. Management will conduct site inspections and audits to check compliance, and we will gather input from staff to identify opportunities for improvement. Performance indicators include incident trends, completion of training, timely equipment maintenance and successful implementation of risk controls. The policy will be updated as needed to reflect changes in equipment, work methods or legislation, ensuring that our local gardening company remains proactive in safety matters.

Implementation: To make this policy effective we will allocate responsibilities, communicate procedures clearly, and ensure resources are available for training and equipment renewal. Supervisors will integrate safety checks into daily operations and ensure that Gardeners East Ham staff are empowered to stop unsafe work without fear of penalty. This policy will be supported by documented procedures, job-specific risk assessments and accessible safety information for all team members.

Conclusion: Our commitment is to a practical, risk-based approach that protects employees, clients and the public while delivering high-quality gardening services in and around East Ham. Safety is an integral part of every job we undertake, and through shared responsibility, training and effective controls we will maintain a safe workplace and a culture of continuous improvement.