Health and Safety Policy — Gardeners Tooting and Surrounding Areas

Gardeners Tooting is committed to providing a safe working environment for all employees, contractors and members of the public affected by our gardening work. This Health and Safety Policy sets out the principles and responsibilities that guide our Tooting gardeners and maintenance teams when delivering horticultural, landscaping and grounds maintenance services. The policy applies to routine grounds upkeep, seasonal projects and any specialist gardening tasks agreed with clients across the service area.

Scope and Objectives

Our objective is to prevent accidents and occupational ill health, minimise risks and promote safe systems of work. The policy covers risk assessment, safe use of tools and equipment, manual handling, hazardous substances, working at height, lone working, traffic management on site and safe disposal of green waste. We aim to protect our team and the public while providing high quality gardening services in Tooting and nearby communities.

Responsibilities — All staff, including subcontractors and temporary workers, must follow the standards set out here. Management is responsible for providing adequate resources, ensuring training is current and maintaining records of risk assessments and safety checks. Each team member must take reasonable care of their own safety and that of others and report hazards or incidents promptly. Supervisors will monitor compliance and carry out toolbox talks to reinforce safe working practices.

Risk Assessment and Safe Work Planning

Before any job begins, Gardeners Tooting undertakes a proportionate risk assessment to identify hazards and set out control measures. Job-specific method statements are prepared for higher-risk activities. Risk assessments consider ground conditions, underground services, overhead utilities, public access, traffic and weather. Control measures include using appropriate PPE, exclusion zones, signage and safe storage of equipment. Our approach balances efficiency with safety so that our gardening teams can deliver services without undue risk.

Training and Competence — We maintain a training programme to ensure everyone is competent for the tasks they perform. Training covers safe operation of powered equipment (mowers, strimmers, chainsaws where used by trained operators), horticultural machinery maintenance, first aid, manual handling techniques and COSHH awareness for pesticides and fuels. Staff records are kept up to date, and refresher training is provided when new equipment or methods are introduced. Emphasis is placed on supervision for trainees and new team members to ensure safe gardening practices.

Plant, tools and equipment are inspected before each use and serviced in line with manufacturers’ guidance. Personal protective equipment such as eye protection, gloves, hearing protection, high-visibility clothing and sturdy footwear is provided and its use is enforced. We require that gardeners in Tooting carry out pre-start checks and report defects immediately; defective equipment is removed from service until repaired or replaced.

Safe Work Measures and Controls — Our standard controls include:

• Site assessment: Identify hazards and restrict public access where necessary.
• PPE and clothing: Ensure appropriate garments and protective gear are worn for each task.
• Equipment safety: Guarding and isolation procedures for powered tools; lock-off when not in use.
• Manual handling: Use mechanical aids where possible and apply safe lifting techniques.
• Chemical use: Use only approved products, store safely and follow COSHH controls.
• Emergency preparedness: First aid provisions, clear access for emergency services and incident reporting procedures.

These measures are applied across our local gardening services and adapted to the needs of specific sites. Where specialist work is required, only trained and competent personnel will be assigned, and any additional controls will be documented in the work plan.

Incident Reporting and Continuous Improvement — All accidents, near misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported immediately so that corrective actions can be implemented. We investigate incidents to identify root causes, update risk assessments and share lessons learned with the team. Regular safety reviews and audits help to improve performance and ensure the policy remains relevant to the activities of our gardening teams in the Tooting area.

Welfare, Lone Working and Environmental Considerations — Provision is made for adequate welfare on longer projects, including access to drinking water, rest breaks and sanitary facilities. Lone workers follow a check-in system and are equipped with communication means to summon assistance. We prioritise environmentally responsible practices such as appropriate green waste disposal, considerate pesticide use and protecting biodiversity while undertaking landscaping work.

Emergency Procedures and First Aid — First aid kits are available on vehicles and at larger sites, and a proportion of staff hold valid first aid training. In the event of an emergency, our teams are instructed to secure the site, provide first aid within their abilities and call for emergency services when necessary. All incidents are logged and reviewed to prevent recurrence.

Policy Review and Implementation — This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed periodically to ensure it reflects current working practices, equipment and legislative expectations. The responsibility for implementation rests with company management, supported by supervisors and every member of staff. By following these principles, Gardeners Tooting and associated teams will deliver safe, reliable and professional gardening and landscaping services across the service area while safeguarding people and the environment.