Health and Safety Policy
Gardeners Ealing is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for employees, contractors, clients, and any other persons who may be affected by our activities. We carry out gardening and grounds maintenance services with care, planning, and a strong focus on preventing accidents, injuries, and damage to property or the environment.
Policy Statement
Our aim is to complete all work safely and to a high professional standard. Health and safety is built into how we plan jobs, use equipment, manage materials, and work on client sites. Everyone involved in our operations is expected to take reasonable care for their own safety and the safety of others, follow company procedures, and report concerns promptly.
Responsibilities
Management is responsible for setting safe working practices, providing suitable equipment, and making sure employees understand the risks associated with gardening work. Supervisors and team members are expected to apply these procedures on every site and stop work if conditions become unsafe. Clients are asked to inform us of any known hazards, restricted access, hidden services, pets, fragile areas, or other site-specific matters that could affect safe working.
All workers must use tools and machinery only for their intended purpose, wear appropriate protective clothing where required, and take care when lifting, handling, cutting, pruning, or working at height. Any person who identifies a hazard must report it as soon as possible so that corrective action can be taken.
Risk Assessment and Safe Planning
Before starting work, we assess the site and the tasks involved to identify hazards and decide on suitable control measures. This may include checking for uneven ground, slippery surfaces, overhead obstacles, sharp materials, electrical equipment, traffic movement, wildlife, changing weather, and the presence of children, visitors, or pets. Where necessary, work will be adjusted, delayed, or rescheduled if conditions are not safe.
We plan work methods to reduce risk wherever possible. This includes using the right tools for the job, keeping work areas tidy, separating hazardous tasks from others on site, and ensuring clear access routes. Particular care is taken when using powered equipment, handling heavy waste, operating at height, or working near boundaries, driveways, and public areas.
Training and Competence
We expect all staff to be suitably trained and competent for the work they carry out. Training includes safe use of gardening tools and machinery, manual handling, basic site awareness, and emergency response procedures. Refresher guidance is provided when needed, especially when new equipment, new work methods, or higher-risk tasks are introduced. Apprentices, new starters, and less experienced workers are supervised appropriately until they can work safely and confidently.
Equipment and Protective Measures
Tools, machinery, and vehicles are maintained in safe working order and inspected regularly. Faulty equipment is removed from use until repaired or replaced. Fuel, chemicals, and other materials are stored and handled carefully in line with safe practice, and only suitable products are used for the task. Protective equipment may include gloves, safety footwear, eye protection, hearing protection, and high-visibility clothing depending on the nature of the work.
We also take steps to reduce risks from manual handling by using correct lifting methods, sharing loads where practical, and using mechanical aids when needed. We aim to work in a way that protects both our team and the client’s property, plants, surfaces, and boundaries.
Environmental and Public Safety
As a gardening service working across residential and commercial properties, we recognise that members of the public may be nearby while work is taking place. We therefore maintain clear boundaries around work areas, store tools safely when not in use, and keep pathways free from trip hazards where reasonably possible. Waste materials are handled responsibly and removed in a way that keeps the site safe and orderly.
Incidents, Emergencies, and Review
Any accident, near miss, injury, or unsafe condition must be reported and recorded so that the cause can be investigated and future risk reduced. First aid and emergency response arrangements are kept in place as appropriate for the work being undertaken. This policy is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains effective, relevant, and compliant with current good practice.
Gardeners Ealing expects all staff and contractors to support this policy by working carefully, communicating clearly, and maintaining high standards of safety at all times.
