Health & Safety Policy for Gardeners Wandsworth

Gardeners Wandsworth operates with a clear and firm commitment to the health, safety and welfare of all staff, contractors, clients and members of the public who may be affected by our gardening and landscaping activities. This policy outlines the standards and procedures that shape how our team of Wandsworth gardeners and horticultural professionals plan, prepare and deliver safe garden care and maintenance services across the service area.

Our objective is to reduce risks from garden machinery, manual handling, hazardous substances and environmental hazards through consistent risk assessment, training and supervision. All employees are encouraged to adopt a proactive safety mindset and to report hazards or near misses without delay so that our safe working practices continuously improve.

The policy applies to routine garden maintenance, landscaping projects, seasonal works and any one-off service delivery. It sets out responsibilities for management and staff, outlines required personal protective equipment (PPE), and details procedures for safe use of powered tools, secure ladder work, and working near roads or public footpaths.

Responsibilities and Organisation

Senior management at Gardeners Wandsworth is responsible for establishing and reviewing this health and safety framework, and for allocating sufficient resources to meet safety objectives. Supervisors and team leaders must ensure that risk assessments are conducted and that staff follow safe systems of work. Every operative has a duty to work safely and to take reasonable care for their own health and that of others.

We ensure that roles are documented and that competence is verified before staff operate specialised equipment. Training records, certifications and toolbox talks are maintained to support consistent standards across our gardening services, whether for routine garden care or larger landscape jobs.

Contractors and casual workers engaged by the company must comply with this policy and provide evidence of appropriate insurances and safe working practices before starting any task on behalf of Gardeners Wandsworth. Communication between client, site supervisor and operative is essential to manage site-specific risks.

Risk Assessment, Procedures and Safe Systems

Risk assessments are completed for every job, proportionate to the scale and complexity of the work. Assessments consider hazards such as:

• Use of petrol-driven and electric machinery
• Manual handling and ergonomic risks while planting or moving soil
• Working at height on ladders or low scaffolding
• Exposure to pesticides, fertilizers and other chemicals
• Working adjacent to traffic, pedestrians and shared spaces

Control measures are implemented using the hierarchy of controls: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls and PPE. Tasks are planned to minimise risk and to protect staff and the public.

Personal Protective Equipment is mandatory where risk assessments indicate: sturdy footwear, gloves, eye and ear protection, high-visibility clothing and respiratory protection when handling dusty materials or hazardous substances. PPE is regularly inspected, maintained and replaced where necessary to ensure effectiveness.

Training and competence are core elements. New team members receive induction training, followed by on-the-job supervision and periodic refresher sessions. Specialist certification is required for pesticide application and for operation of certain powered equipment.

Manual handling protocols and safe lifting techniques are taught and reinforced. Mechanical aids are used where practicable to reduce strain and injury risk. Employees are encouraged to inform supervisors if they have medical conditions that may affect safe performance of tasks.

Plant and machinery are serviced and inspected according to manufacturer guidance. Operators must check equipment before use and report defects immediately. Garden maintenance Wandsworth teams follow lock-out procedures for fuel-powered machines and secure all hazardous components when performing maintenance.

Working near roads or busy footways is managed through traffic control measures, clear signage and the use of trained staff to monitor pedestrian flow. We apply best-practice standards to protect workers and site users, including setting up exclusion zones when using blowers, shredders or chipper machines.

Emergency procedures are in place for incidents such as serious injury, fire or hazardous substance release. First aid provisions and trained first-aiders are available on sites as appropriate. All incidents are recorded and investigated to prevent recurrence.

Monitoring, review and continual improvement are embedded into our approach. Regular site inspections, audits and reviews of accident data inform updates to procedures. The policy is formally reviewed at least annually and whenever there is a significant change to methods, equipment or legislation.

We place strong emphasis on clear communication: safety briefings are held before work commences, and staff are empowered to stop unsafe work. Reporting channels are maintained so that hazards, near misses and accidents are escalated and addressed promptly.

Gardeners Wandsworth provides reliable, safe garden and landscaping services with a focus on protecting people and the environment. By maintaining robust health and safety practices, our team of Wandsworth gardeners ensures high-quality results without compromising safety. This policy is supported by operational procedures, training, supervision and a culture of continual improvement to keep everyone safe while delivering trusted garden care services.