Health & Safety Policy — Gardening Turnham Green

Gardening Turnham Green is committed to protecting the health, safety and welfare of all staff, contractors, visitors and the public affected by our gardening operations. This policy sets out our approach to safe working across gardening services in Turnham Green, covering garden maintenance, landscaping, soft-landscaping and grounds care. The aim is to ensure work is planned, assessed and executed to minimise risk while delivering high-quality garden care.

The policy applies to every person engaged in Turnham Green gardening work and to those who may be affected by our activities. Managers, supervisors and operatives share responsibility for maintaining safe systems of work. We will provide the necessary resources, training and equipment to achieve compliance with this policy and to foster a culture where safety is integral to every task. All employees are required to follow safe working procedures and report hazards without delay.

Risk assessment, controls and safe work

Routine risk assessments are carried out for all routine and non-routine tasks. Where practical controls cannot completely eliminate hazards, we apply the hierarchy of control: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls and personal protective equipment (PPE). Key control measures include:

• Pre-job assessment of each site and task to identify hazards such as uneven ground, buried services, adjacent traffic or public access.
• Clear method statements for higher-risk activities like tree work, hedge cutting and use of powered tools.
• Use of appropriate PPE including gloves, eye and ear protection, safety boots and high-visibility clothing.

Roles and responsibilities: senior management will set the policy and ensure resources are available. Supervisors will ensure that staff are competent and that risk controls are implemented. Operatives must follow instructions, use PPE and equipment correctly, and alert supervisors to unsafe conditions. Contractors and temporary workers engaged for landscaping or specialist tasks must demonstrate equivalent health and safety standards before commencing work.

Training, competence and supervision

All personnel undertaking gardening services in the Turnham Green area receive induction training, job-specific training and periodic refresher training. Training covers safe operation of machinery, hand tool use, manual handling techniques, working at height, traffic management on-site, and control of hazardous substances such as pesticides and fuels. Competence checks and documented training records are maintained. Where apprentices or new staff are present, direct supervision by a competent person is provided until competence is demonstrated.

Equipment and machinery are serviced and inspected regularly by trained technicians. Petrol-driven and electric equipment carry maintenance schedules, and defect reporting procedures ensure faulty items are removed from service until repaired. Battery systems and charging units are managed to prevent thermal risk and to ensure safe storage and disposal of batteries and consumables.

Manual handling, lifting and working techniques are controlled through task design, use of mechanical aids (e.g., trolleys, winches, lifting frames) and instruction on correct lifting posture. For heavy or awkward tasks we plan lifts, use team lifts and provide lifting training to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injury.

Emergency procedures: we maintain clear emergency plans for incidents such as serious injury, fire, chemical spill or extreme weather. First aid provision is appropriate to the operational area and number of staff on site, with trained first-aiders available during working hours. In the event of an incident, staff should secure the area, administer first aid within their competence, and notify supervisory staff so that emergency services can be engaged if necessary.

Hazardous substances and waste: handling of fuels, lubricants, herbicides and pesticides follows product safety data sheets and safe handling procedures. Storage is secure and bunded where required. Spill kits are available and staff are trained in containment and clean-up. Waste green material and chemical containers are disposed of responsibly in accordance with environmental best practice.

Public safety and site control — when working in public spaces or residential gardens, public protection is a priority. We employ signage, cordons and traffic management measures where appropriate to protect passersby and residents from blades, debris and plant material. Where operations affect pavements or roads, appropriate permissions and warnings are arranged and implemented to reduce public risk.

Monitoring, incident reporting and continual improvement — all incidents, near misses and unsafe conditions are reported and investigated to identify root causes and preventive actions. We maintain records of accidents, training, inspections and maintenance. Regular site audits and safety reviews drive continuous improvement in our health and safety performance for landscaping and garden maintenance services. Findings from audits inform updates to procedures and training.

Policy review and communication — this policy is reviewed at least annually and after any significant change in operations, equipment or following a serious incident. Changes are communicated to all staff, contractors and stakeholders involved in garden maintenance Turnham Green activities. Everyone is encouraged to contribute suggestions to improve safety and wellbeing.

Compliance: adherence to this policy is mandatory. Failure to follow safety procedures may result in disciplinary action. We are committed to preventing harm, protecting the environment and sustaining a safe working culture within our gardening and landscaping operations. Together, by following these principles, Gardening Turnham Green aims to deliver safe, reliable and professional garden services while keeping people and places protected.