Gardeners Lee Health and Safety Policy

Gardeners Lee is committed to providing professional gardening and grounds care services while protecting the health, safety, and welfare of our employees, clients, visitors, contractors, and members of the public. We recognise that many gardening tasks involve tools, machinery, chemicals, and physical work, and we manage these risks through robust planning, training, and supervision.

Policy Aims and Responsibilities

The purpose of this policy is to set out how Gardeners Lee manages health and safety in all gardening and landscaping activities. Our aims are to prevent injuries, protect health, minimise damage to property and the environment, and maintain a culture of safe working.

Overall responsibility for health and safety rests with the company management, who ensure that appropriate resources, procedures, and supervision are in place. Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for day to day implementation on each job, including task planning, allocation of safe equipment, and on site checks. All employees share responsibility for working safely, following instructions, and reporting hazards and incidents without delay.

Legal Duties and Continuous Improvement

Gardeners Lee complies with applicable health and safety legislation and relevant industry guidance for gardening and grounds maintenance. We review this policy regularly, and whenever our services, equipment, or legal requirements change. We monitor our performance, investigate accidents and near misses, and use the findings to improve how we plan and deliver our work.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

We assess risks for our gardening activities, including lawn care, hedge cutting, pruning, planting, weed control, soil preparation, use of power tools, and waste handling. Before starting work, significant hazards are identified and the necessary control measures put in place. These may include choice of equipment, access controls, barriers or signage, safe working distances, and personal protective equipment.

Safe systems of work and task specific procedures are communicated to staff. These procedures cover, where relevant, the use of ladders and access equipment, work around vehicles and traffic, work near fragile surfaces or water features, and working in customers gardens and shared outdoor spaces.

Training, Competence, and Supervision

Gardeners Lee ensures that employees are competent to carry out their gardening duties safely. New staff receive an induction that includes health and safety expectations, emergency arrangements, accident reporting, and safe handling of tools and machinery. Ongoing training is provided for the correct and safe use of equipment, manual handling techniques, safe lifting, and chemical handling where required.

Where tasks require specialist skills, such as the use of certain powered machinery or work at height, only trained and authorised personnel undertake those tasks. Supervisors monitor work practices, correct unsafe behaviour, and provide guidance to less experienced team members.

Equipment, Tools, and Machinery

All gardening equipment, including mowers, trimmers, blowers, hedge cutters, and hand tools, is selected, maintained, and used to minimise risk. Equipment is inspected regularly, and defective items are removed from service until repaired or replaced. Guards and safety devices are never bypassed, and manufacturer instructions are followed at all times.

Staff are trained to carry equipment safely to and from vehicles and gardens, to manage fuel and power sources correctly, and to store tools securely when not in use. Where noise or vibration may be a concern, appropriate control measures are implemented, including personal protective equipment and job rotation where practical.

Use of Chemicals and Environmental Care

When using garden chemicals such as fertilisers, pesticides, or herbicides, Gardeners Lee follows product instructions and applicable safety guidance. Only trained staff handle and apply such substances. We store chemicals securely, use the minimum necessary for the task, and take care to avoid contamination of soil, water features, neighbouring properties, and wildlife habitats.

We aim to work in a way that supports healthy gardens and green spaces while protecting people, pets, and the wider environment. Empty containers and chemical waste are managed and disposed of responsibly.

Personal Protective Equipment

Personal protective equipment, such as gloves, eye protection, hearing protection, safety footwear, high visibility garments, and protective clothing, is provided where risk assessment shows it to be necessary. Employees must wear and look after the items issued to them and report any loss or damage so that replacements can be arranged.

Personal protective equipment is used as a last line of defence in combination with other control measures, not as a substitute for safe systems of work or properly maintained equipment.

Manual Handling and Physical Wellbeing

Gardening often involves lifting, carrying, digging, and repetitive movements. Gardeners Lee trains staff in safe manual handling methods and encourages the use of mechanical aids and team lifting whenever practical. Heavy loads are assessed before movement, and tasks are organised to avoid unnecessary strain.

We promote sensible work pacing, rest breaks where appropriate, and hydration in hot weather. Staff are encouraged to report any discomfort or early signs of strain so that work methods or duties can be adjusted where possible.

Working at Height and Site Access

Where gardening work involves height, such as hedge cutting, pruning, or property frontage work, we plan the task to reduce the need to leave ground level. Where this is not possible, only suitable access equipment is used, and safe systems of work are followed. Improvised platforms and unsafe ladder use are not permitted.

On all sites, we plan safe access and egress for staff, clients, and the public. Tools and materials are placed to avoid tripping hazards, and work areas are kept as tidy as possible during and after the job.

Protection of Clients, Visitors, and the Public

Gardeners Lee takes reasonable steps to ensure that our gardening work does not expose others to unacceptable risks. Where necessary, we use barriers or temporary signs to warn of work in progress, moving machinery, or slippery surfaces. We manage vehicle movements with care, especially in residential areas and shared driveways.

Noise, dust, and debris are controlled as far as is reasonably practicable. We cooperate with clients to agree suitable working times and access arrangements, and we keep them informed about any significant risks or temporary restrictions affecting their property.

Incident Reporting and Emergency Arrangements

All accidents, near misses, and hazardous situations must be reported promptly to management. We investigate incidents to understand the root causes and to put corrective actions in place. First aid provisions are maintained, and staff are informed of the arrangements for obtaining help in an emergency.

In the event of a serious incident, work is stopped if necessary, the area is made safe, and appropriate support and follow up measures are implemented.

Employee Consultation and Policy Review

Gardeners Lee values the input of employees in improving health and safety performance. Staff are encouraged to raise concerns, suggest improvements, and participate in discussions about safer work methods and equipment.

This policy is reviewed at regular intervals and whenever significant changes occur in our operations or relevant regulations. Updated versions are communicated to all employees and made available to clients on request.