Gardeners Twickenham Health and Safety Policy

At Gardeners Twickenham, we are committed to providing gardening and grounds maintenance services in a way that protects the health, safety, and welfare of our employees, clients, visitors, contractors, and members of the public. This policy explains our approach to managing risk, promoting safe working practices, and continually improving our standards on every site where we work.

Our Health and Safety Commitment

We aim to prevent accidents, injuries, and work-related ill health arising from our gardening activities. Management accepts overall responsibility for health and safety performance, and every member of our team is expected to take reasonable care of themselves and others who may be affected by their work.

Gardeners Twickenham will ensure that health and safety considerations are integrated into planning, supervision, and delivery of all services, including regular garden maintenance, landscaping, lawn care, tree and hedge work, planting, and seasonal tasks.

Legal Responsibilities and Management

We comply with all applicable health and safety legislation and recognised industry guidance relevant to gardening and grounds maintenance. Senior management is responsible for implementing this policy, reviewing its effectiveness, and providing adequate resources to maintain safe working conditions.

Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for day-to-day implementation of safe systems of work, monitoring site conditions, and ensuring that staff follow agreed procedures, use protective equipment correctly, and report any hazards or incidents without delay.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Before starting work, we assess the risks associated with gardening tasks at each property. This may include assessing ground conditions, access routes, slopes and levels, overhanging branches, underground services, public pathways, and proximity to neighbours and passing traffic.

We develop and follow safe systems of work for common tasks, including mowing and strimming, hedge cutting and pruning, soil cultivation and digging, planting and weeding, green waste handling and removal, and the use of ladders and access equipment. Work is planned to minimise exposure to hazards such as sharp tools, moving machinery, noise, vibration, dust, sun exposure, and adverse weather.

Training, Supervision, and Competence

Gardeners Twickenham provides appropriate information, instruction, and training to all employees to ensure they are competent for the tasks they perform. This includes induction training in company safety procedures, task specific training for machinery and equipment, and ongoing refresher sessions when needed.

Team members are encouraged to raise health and safety concerns and suggest improvements. Less experienced staff work under suitable supervision until they have demonstrated the necessary skills and understanding to work safely on their own or with minimal oversight.

Personal Protective Equipment

We provide and maintain suitable personal protective equipment for gardening activities. Depending on the task and risk assessment, this may include safety footwear, gloves, eye and face protection, hearing protection, high visibility clothing, and respiratory protection where appropriate.

Employees are required to wear the protective equipment provided, look after it carefully, and report any damage or defects so that items can be repaired or replaced promptly. No one is permitted to undertake tasks requiring personal protective equipment without using it correctly.

Machinery, Tools, and Equipment Safety

All machinery, garden tools, and powered equipment used by Gardeners Twickenham are selected, maintained, and used in accordance with manufacturers instructions and relevant safety standards. Equipment undergoes routine checks, servicing, and cleaning to ensure it remains in safe working order.

Only trained and authorised personnel operate powered machinery such as lawnmowers, trimmers, blowers, chainsaws, and hedge cutters. Defective equipment is taken out of service immediately until it has been repaired or replaced.

Control of Substances and Materials

Where gardening tasks involve the use of substances such as fuels, oils, fertilisers, or approved weed control products, we assess and manage the associated health and environmental risks. Products are stored, handled, used, and disposed of in line with relevant safety data and applicable regulations.

We aim to minimise the use of potentially harmful substances and prefer environmentally responsible methods wherever practicable, while still maintaining safe and effective gardening services.

Manual Handling and Ergonomics

Many gardening activities involve lifting, carrying, digging, and repetitive movements. Gardeners Twickenham seeks to reduce the risk of strain and injury by using appropriate tools and loading aids, planning work to avoid unnecessary lifting and awkward postures, and training staff in correct manual handling techniques.

Team members are encouraged to take regular breaks from repetitive tasks and to report early signs of discomfort or fatigue so adjustments can be made to their working methods.

Public, Client, and Visitor Safety

We plan and conduct gardening work to protect clients, visitors, neighbours, and other members of the public. This may include setting up exclusion zones where work is being carried out, managing cables and hoses to avoid trip hazards, positioning vehicles and machinery to minimise obstruction and risk, and temporarily suspending work when people pass close by.

Tools and materials are kept tidy and secure, and areas are left in a safe condition at the end of each working period. Any damage or hazards identified on site that could affect safety are reported to the client as soon as reasonably practicable.

Incident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, near misses, and dangerous occurrences must be reported to management at the earliest opportunity. We keep records of such events, investigate their causes, and put in place corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

Gardeners Twickenham ensures that staff know how to respond in the event of an emergency, such as personal injury, fire, or sudden illness. Vehicles and teams carry basic first aid materials appropriate to the work being undertaken.

Continuous Improvement and Policy Review

We are committed to continuous improvement in our health and safety performance. This policy and our associated procedures are reviewed regularly, and whenever there are significant changes in legislation, working methods, or the nature of our gardening services.

By working together, following safe systems of work, and applying the principles set out in this policy, Gardeners Twickenham aims to deliver high quality gardening services while safeguarding the wellbeing of everyone involved.