Health and Safety Policy — Gardener Willesden

Gardener arranging tools in a van before starting work Gardener Willesden is committed to protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of our staff, clients and the public while delivering professional gardening and landscape maintenance services. Our objective is to ensure that all activities are planned, supervised and executed to reduce risk to an acceptable level and to promote a culture of safe working across every job site.

Scope and principles

This policy applies to everyone working for Gardener Willesden including employees, contractors and temporary staff while performing garden care, hedge trimming, lawn treatments and planting services across our service area. We will comply with recognised safe working practices and integrate risk control into daily routines, ensuring that our Willesden garden teams and visiting operatives work safely and responsibly.

Hedge trimming in a residential garden with safety gear Core principles include prevention of injury and ill health, continual improvement of safety performance, clear accountability for managers and supervisors, and active involvement of staff in hazard identification and mitigation. The company will provide suitable information, instruction, training and supervision to enable safe working.

Responsibilities

Management responsibilities — Senior managers are responsible for providing resources and leadership to implement this policy. They will ensure that risk assessments are completed, safe systems of work are in place and that plant, equipment and materials used by our Willesden gardeners are maintained and suitable for purpose. Managers will regularly review safety performance and lead safety briefings.

Employee responsibilities — All staff, including those undertaking garden maintenance and landscaping, must take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others. Employees must follow instructions, use provided personal protective equipment (PPE), report hazards or incidents promptly and participate in safety training.

Contractors and sub‑contractors engaged by Gardener Willesden must adhere to this policy, operate under agreed safe systems of work and provide evidence of competence and insurance when requested. We will only appoint contractors whose safety standards align with our expectations.

Risk assessment and control measures

Gardener performing risk assessment checklist on site Regular risk assessments will be carried out for recurrent tasks such as lawn mowing, shrub pruning, hedge cutting, and safe operation of powered equipment. Hazard controls follow a hierarchy: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls and PPE. For example, where possible we will eliminate working at height by using extendable tools rather than ladders, or provide appropriate fall protection when access is unavoidable.

We maintain a documented approach to identifying site-specific hazards including underground utilities, traffic interaction on public verges, poor ground conditions and use of pesticides or fertilisers. Control measures are recorded and communicated prior to work starting, and monitoring is carried out during the task.

Equipment and PPE

All machinery, from ride-on mowers to brushcutters, is subject to pre-use checks and scheduled maintenance. Only trained operators will use powered garden equipment. PPE such as gloves, eye protection, hearing protection, hi‑vis clothing and safety boots are provided and must be worn. Maintenance of tools reduces risk and ensures efficient, safe operations.

Training, competence and communication

We invest in regular training and competence checks for gardeners, including safe tool use, pesticide handling awareness, manual handling techniques and emergency procedures. New staff receive induction covering our safety rules and site-specific hazards. Ongoing toolbox talks reinforce safe working and encourage reporting and learning from near misses.

Clear communication channels ensure that safety information flows from supervisors to operatives and vice versa. Our supervisors carry out pre-task briefings and ensure that control measures are understood and followed. Staff are encouraged to suggest improvements and to raise concerns without fear of reprisal.

Key safe working rules are summarised here:

Always conduct and document a pre‑work risk assessment
Use the correct PPE and tools for the job
Ensure public safety around work areas with barriers or signage where required
Report incidents, near misses and unsafe conditions immediately

Incident management and first aid

First aid kit and safety signage at a garden worksite Accidents, incidents and near misses will be recorded, investigated and reviewed to prevent recurrence. First aid provisions are available on site where necessary, with trained first aiders accessible during working hours. We will ensure timely reporting and that any required remedial actions are taken to reduce future risk.

Emergency procedures, including fire and medical response and vehicle breakdown protocols, are in place and communicated to staff. Staff are trained to secure the area and provide basic first aid until professional help arrives.

Monitoring, review and continuous improvement

Team of gardeners in hi-vis gear conducting a toolbox talk This policy is reviewed at regular intervals and after significant incidents, changes to work practices or legislative updates. Performance is monitored through inspections, audits and feedback from employees. Gardener Willesden is committed to continuous improvement and to maintaining a health and safety culture that protects our workforce and the communities we serve.

Final note: This policy sets out the company’s commitment to health and safety and outlines responsibilities and arrangements to manage risk. All personnel must familiarise themselves with this policy and the detailed safe systems of work relevant to their roles. Consistent application of these measures ensures safe, reliable and professional garden services across our service area.