Health and Safety Policy for Gardening Services Haringey

This Health and Safety Policy sets out the commitment of Gardening Services Haringey to protect the health, safety and welfare of employees, contractors, clients and the public while delivering gardening and landscape maintenance across the local service area. The policy explains the standards we adopt, the responsibilities expected of everyone working for our Haringey gardening company and the practical measures that form our safe systems of work. It is intended to be clear, proportionate and achievable while promoting continuous improvement.

Scope and Objectives

The policy applies to all activities carried out by our team when providing gardening services in Haringey, garden maintenance Haringey and related grounds care tasks. Objectives include preventing workplace injury and illness, reducing environmental harm, ensuring compliance with relevant safety standards and encouraging an open safety culture. We prioritise risk control, proper training, safe plant operation and the use of appropriate personal protective equipment.

Risk assessments are central to how we manage hazards. Before starting work on any site we identify hazards such as mobile machinery, hazardous substances (including pesticides and fuel), manual handling, working near roads, trees and heights, as well as interactions with the public. Controls are selected using the hierarchy of risk control: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls and PPE. Practical examples include using mechanical aids for lifting, establishing exclusion zones around powered equipment and ensuring secure ladder use.

Responsibilities

Everyone employed by the Haringey garden services team has a role in delivering safe outcomes. Senior management take overall responsibility for policy implementation, resource allocation and compliance monitoring. Supervisors and team leaders must ensure risk assessments are carried out, safe systems are communicated and that staff are competent for assigned tasks. Individual operatives must follow safe working procedures, report hazards or near-misses and take reasonable care for their own safety and that of others.

Key responsibilities include:

• Management: provide training, equipment and oversight.
• Supervisors: maintain site safety, check PPE and enforce controls.
• Operatives: attend training, use equipment correctly and report incidents.

We maintain documented safe operating procedures for common tasks such as hedge cutting, grass maintenance, tree pruning, use of chainsaws and strimmers, and fuel handling. These documents are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect best practice and any changes in legislation or equipment.

Training and competence are essential. All team members receive induction training, periodic refreshers and task-specific instruction. Training records are kept and used to plan competency checks. We encourage the use of toolbox talks and pre-task briefings to reinforce safety messages and adapt controls to site-specific conditions.

Manual handling is managed by risk assessment, provision of mechanical aids where practicable and by training staff in safe lifting techniques. We emphasise team lifting for bulky items and the reduction of repetitive strain through job rotation. Lone working procedures are in place for operatives working off-site and include regular check-ins and a clear escalation protocol for emergencies.

PPE is provided in line with task hazards and includes eye protection, hearing protection, gloves, hi-vis clothing and appropriate footwear. Respiratory protection is issued where there is a risk from dust or spray drift. All PPE is maintained, inspected and replaced according to manufacturer guidance.

Plant and equipment safety is managed through pre-use inspections, regular maintenance, competent operation and the use of guards and emergency stops. Fuel storage and refuelling controls are implemented to minimise spill risk and fire hazards. For chemical use, we maintain COSHH-style controls: safe storage, correct dilution, use of alternatives where possible and safe disposal of containers.

Emergency procedures include site-specific arrangements for first aid, fire and major incidents, and clear instructions for contacting emergency services. First aid kits are positioned on vehicles and at depots and staff trained to an appropriate level. Incidents, accidents and near-misses are recorded, investigated and used to inform preventive action; we aim to learn from events and share lessons across the team.

Monitoring, review and continual improvement are built into our approach. We carry out periodic audits, supervision visits and performance reviews to check that controls remain effective. The policy will be reviewed at least annually or following a significant change in operations, personnel or following an incident. All employees are encouraged to raise concerns and suggest improvements.

Additional commitments include environmental protection measures, such as containment of waste, protection of watercourses, and considerate use of chemicals to minimise impact on biodiversity. We also maintain a policy of safeguarding vulnerable site users by controlling access to work areas and using clear signage.

The Gardening Services Haringey team is committed to ensuring that this Health and Safety Policy is understood, implemented and acted upon at all levels. Through clear leadership, practical control measures and ongoing training we aim to provide safe, reliable and responsible gardening and landscape services across the service area.

Signed and adopted by management: this policy forms the basis for safe working practice and will be communicated to all staff, contractors and relevant stakeholders. Regular updates and training will ensure it remains relevant, effective and appropriate to the needs of our workforce and clients.