Health And Safety Policy

Gardeners Millwall Health and Safety Policy

This Health and Safety Policy sets out how Gardeners Millwall manages health, safety and welfare for employees, contractors, clients and members of the public affected by our gardening services. Our work includes general garden maintenance, planting, lawn care, hedge cutting, soft landscaping and related outdoor services across our local service area.

Policy Statement

Gardeners Millwall is committed to providing and maintaining safe and healthy working conditions, equipment and systems of work. We aim to prevent injury and ill health arising from our activities and to comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and approved guidance for gardening and grounds maintenance operations.

Health and safety are integral to the planning, organisation and delivery of every job we undertake. All staff are expected to work safely, take reasonable care of themselves and others, and cooperate fully in implementing this policy.

Responsibilities

The owner or appointed manager of Gardeners Millwall has overall responsibility for health and safety. This includes ensuring that adequate resources are provided for training, equipment, personal protective equipment, supervision and risk control measures.

Supervisors are responsible for day-to-day implementation of this policy on site, including briefing staff, checking that safe working procedures are followed, and stopping work if conditions become unsafe.

All employees and regular contractors must:

Attend relevant health and safety training sessions, follow site-specific instructions, use tools and machinery only as trained and authorised, report hazards, near misses, accidents or defective equipment without delay, and wear and maintain the personal protective equipment provided.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Gardeners Millwall will identify, assess and manage the risks associated with our gardening activities. Suitable and proportionate risk assessments are carried out for typical tasks such as grass cutting, hedge trimming, use of powered tools, manual handling, working near roads or public pathways, and working at height using ladders or access equipment.

Where risks cannot be removed, they are reduced to the lowest practicable level by using safer equipment, changing the way work is organised, and applying appropriate control measures. Safe systems of work and method statements are communicated to staff before tasks begin.

Training, Competence and Supervision

We provide information, instruction and training so that employees can work safely and understand the specific hazards associated with gardening and grounds maintenance. This may include induction training, equipment operation training for tools such as mowers, trimmers and blowers, safe handling and storage of fuels, pesticides and other substances, manual handling techniques, use and care of personal protective equipment, and awareness of environmental and weather-related risks.

Only trained and authorised personnel may operate powered machinery. Less experienced staff are supervised until they reach a competent level. Training needs are reviewed regularly and whenever new equipment, materials or working methods are introduced.

Equipment, Tools and Machinery

Gardeners Millwall will ensure that all tools and machinery used for gardening work are suitable for their intended purpose and maintained in safe working order. Regular inspections are carried out and maintenance is recorded where appropriate. Defective or damaged equipment is taken out of service immediately and only returned to use once repaired or replaced and checked.

Guards, safety switches and other built in protection must not be removed or bypassed. Fuel powered equipment is stored, transported and used safely, with attention to ventilation, refuelling procedures and fire risks.

Personal Protective Equipment

Appropriate personal protective equipment is provided where needed, based on risk assessment. This may include safety footwear, gloves, eye and face protection, hearing protection, high visibility garments and weather appropriate clothing.

Employees must use the PPE supplied, keep it in good condition and report any damage or loss. Where necessary, replacements will be provided promptly.

Manual Handling and Ergonomics

Many gardening tasks involve lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling and repetitive movements. Gardeners Millwall seeks to minimise the risk of musculoskeletal injury by planning work to avoid unnecessary lifting, using trolleys, barrows or mechanical aids where possible, dividing heavy loads into smaller units, providing training in safe lifting and handling techniques, and rotating tasks to reduce prolonged repetitive actions.

Chemicals, Substances and Environmental Factors

Where fertilisers, treatments or other substances are used, we follow the manufacturer instructions, applicable control of substances regulations and industry best practice. Containers are labelled clearly and stored safely. Staff are instructed on safe application methods and protective measures.

Weather and site conditions are assessed before and during work. Extra care is taken in high winds, heavy rain, icy conditions or extreme temperatures. Work may be modified or suspended if conditions make it unsafe to continue.

Public Safety and Client Premises

Our teams take all reasonable steps to protect clients, neighbours and passing members of the public from harm. This includes planning access routes for equipment and waste, using warning signs or temporary barriers where necessary, controlling flying debris during cutting and trimming activities, keeping tools and materials tidy and secure, and leaving sites in a safe condition at the end of the job.

We respect client premises and gardens, and take care to avoid damage to property, plants, services and boundaries while carrying out our work.

Incident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, injuries, near misses and dangerous occurrences connected with our gardening activities must be reported as soon as possible to the responsible person. Incidents are recorded and, where necessary, investigated to identify root causes and improvements.

First aid arrangements are made appropriate to the size and nature of the job. Staff are informed of emergency procedures, including what to do in the event of serious injury, fire, exposure to chemicals or discovery of unexpected hazards.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

Gardeners Millwall monitors health and safety performance through site checks, equipment inspections, incident reviews and feedback from staff and clients. This policy and associated procedures are reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes in our activities, legislation or industry guidance.

We are committed to continuous improvement in health and safety, ensuring that our gardening services are delivered responsibly and with due care for everyone affected by our work.