Gardeners Lambeth Health and Safety Policy
Gardeners Lambeth is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, clients, visitors, contractors, and members of the public who may be affected by our gardening and grounds maintenance activities. This Health and Safety policy sets out our responsibilities and arrangements for managing health and safety in all areas of our work.
We aim to deliver high quality gardening services while preventing injury, ill health, and damage to property or the environment. Health and safety is an integral part of our planning, decision-making, and day-to-day operations across the areas we serve.
Policy Objectives
The main objectives of this Health and Safety policy are to:
Identify and control risks arising from our gardening, landscaping, and maintenance activities.
Comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and recognised industry standards.
Provide and maintain safe systems of work and suitable work equipment.
Ensure employees are trained and competent to carry out their duties safely.
Promote a positive health and safety culture where everyone understands their responsibilities.
Review and improve our health and safety performance on a regular basis.
Management Responsibilities
Management at Gardeners Lambeth holds overall responsibility for health and safety within the business. This includes:
Ensuring that adequate resources are made available for health and safety measures.
Implementing and monitoring this Health and Safety policy and associated procedures.
Conducting and reviewing risk assessments for gardening tasks, machinery, and work locations.
Ensuring that staff receive appropriate information, instruction, and training.
Investigating accidents, incidents, and near misses, and taking steps to prevent recurrence.
Consulting with employees on matters affecting their health and safety.
Employee Responsibilities
Every employee of Gardeners Lambeth has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions. All employees must:
Follow all safety instructions, procedures, and risk assessments provided by the company.
Use tools, machinery, and personal protective equipment correctly and responsibly.
Report any hazards, defects, or unsafe conditions to management without delay.
Cooperate fully with training, supervision, and health and safety initiatives.
Refrain from misusing or interfering with anything provided in the interests of health and safety.
Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices
Gardeners Lambeth undertakes regular risk assessments to identify potential hazards associated with gardening and grounds maintenance work, including but not limited to the use of power tools, manual handling, working at height, handling of plants and soils, and work in public or residential areas.
Based on these assessments, safe systems of work and method statements are developed and communicated to staff. Control measures may include the use of appropriate personal protective equipment, restrictions on certain activities in adverse weather, the safe storage and transport of equipment, and the implementation of exclusion zones where necessary.
Risk assessments are reviewed periodically and whenever our work methods, equipment, or locations change in a significant way.
Training, Supervision, and Competence
We recognise that competent staff are essential to safe operations. Gardeners Lambeth provides initial induction training for new employees and ongoing training for existing staff. Training covers topics such as:
Safe use, inspection, and maintenance of gardening equipment and machinery.
Manual handling techniques to reduce the risk of injury.
Use of personal protective equipment and clothing appropriate to each task.
Awareness of site-specific risks, including working near roads, access routes, and water features.
Emergency procedures and incident reporting.
Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that staff are appropriately trained, understand the risks associated with their work, and follow all agreed procedures. No employee may operate machinery or undertake specialist tasks unless they are trained and authorised to do so.
Equipment, Machinery, and Personal Protective Equipment
All tools and machinery used by Gardeners Lambeth are selected, maintained, and inspected to ensure they remain safe and fit for purpose. Defective or damaged equipment must be taken out of use immediately and reported to management.
Personal protective equipment is provided where necessary, which may include safety footwear, gloves, eye protection, hearing protection, high-visibility clothing, and respiratory protection for specific tasks. Employees are required to use and care for this equipment as instructed and to report any loss or damage.
Substances, Chemicals, and Environmental Considerations
Where we use horticultural products such as fertilisers, soil improvers, or other substances, we assess any associated health risks and follow safe handling and application procedures. Where possible, Gardeners Lambeth seeks to minimise the use of hazardous substances and to adopt environmentally responsible methods of weed and pest control.
We aim to reduce environmental impacts through responsible waste management, recycling where practicable, and preventing damage to wildlife, plants, and surrounding properties during our work.
Working at Client Premises and Public Areas
Many of our services are carried out at residential properties, commercial sites, and shared outdoor spaces. When working on client premises or in public areas, Gardeners Lambeth will:
Take reasonable steps to protect clients, visitors, neighbours, and members of the public from risk.
Maintain good housekeeping standards to avoid trip hazards and obstructions.
Use clear communication and, where appropriate, signs or barriers to indicate work areas.
Ensure that vehicles and equipment are parked and operated safely, with consideration for access routes.
Client Cooperation and Responsibilities
We ask our clients to support our health and safety efforts by:
Informing us of any known hazards at their property or site, such as unstable structures, underground services, or restricted access routes.
Keeping children, pets, and visitors away from active work areas and equipment.
Allowing adequate access and space for our team to work safely and efficiently.
Accident Reporting, Emergencies, and Policy Review
All accidents, incidents, and near misses must be reported to management as soon as possible. This enables Gardeners Lambeth to investigate, learn lessons, and prevent similar events.
Emergency arrangements, including first aid provision and procedures for contacting emergency services, are in place and communicated to staff. Vehicles and teams carry basic first aid supplies appropriate to the nature of our work.
This Health and Safety policy is reviewed regularly and updated as necessary to reflect changes in legislation, best practice, and our operations. The most current version is made available to employees and clients on request.
By following this policy, Gardeners Lambeth seeks to ensure that our gardening services are delivered in a way that protects the health, safety, and wellbeing of everyone involved.
