Health and Safety Policy — Gardening Services Chessington

Purpose: This document sets out the health and safety policy for our gardening and grounds maintenance operations. It applies to all staff, contractors and visitors engaged in gardening services in the Chessington area and nearby service locations. The aim is to create and maintain a safe working environment, to prevent injury and ill health, and to ensure tasks are performed with care and competence.

Scope and commitment: The company recognises its duty of care to employees and others affected by our work. Our commitment covers routine garden maintenance, landscaping, hedge cutting, lawn care and seasonal planting. We will take reasonable steps to assess hazards, provide appropriate training, supply suitable protective equipment and continually review working practices.

Responsibilities: Management, supervisors and operatives each have defined responsibilities. Management must ensure safe systems, adequate resources and monitoring. Supervisors are responsible for on-site risk control and worker briefings. Operatives must follow instructions and report hazards. Everyone is expected to cooperate to maintain a safe culture across our garden maintenance and gardening company operations.

Risk assessment and safe systems of work: We carry out documented risk assessments for routine and non-routine tasks. These assessments inform safe systems of work, permit-to-work arrangements for high risk activities and emergency procedures. Control measures include exclusion zones for powered equipment, traffic management for van and trailer movements, and safe manual handling techniques.

Training and competence: All operatives receive induction training, task-specific instruction and refresher training as required. Training records are maintained, and competence checks are completed for use of chainsaws, strimmers, shredders and ride-on mowers. Contractors engaged for specialist tasks must demonstrate equivalent competence and adherence to our standards.

Personal protective equipment (PPE): Appropriate PPE is supplied and its use enforced where necessary. This includes protective footwear, hi-visibility clothing, eye and ear protection, gloves and chainsaw protective trousers where relevant. PPE is inspected regularly and replaced as required.

Equipment and maintenance

Tools and machinery are regularly inspected, maintained and serviced. Pre-use checks are required for petrol-powered equipment; defects are reported and equipment taken out of service until repaired. Electrical tools are checked for insulation and earth continuity; battery-powered tools are charged and stored safely to avoid damage.

Hazardous substances and environmental controls

Where herbicides, pesticides or fuels are used, COSHH-style controls are applied: safe storage, clear labelling, appropriate disposal and training for handling. Spill response kits are maintained. We minimise environmental impact by following best practice for chemical use and by protecting watercourses and sensitive planting areas.

Work at height and ladders: Work at height is planned and kept to a minimum. Suitable access equipment is used and checked. Ladders are restricted to low-risk, short-duration tasks with a documented assessment. Harnesses and specialist access teams are used for complex or elevated landscaping activities.

Emergency procedures and first aid: Emergency arrangements include site-based first aid kits, trained first aiders and clear reporting procedures for incidents. Near-miss events are recorded and reviewed to prevent recurrence. Fire safety and evacuation plans are included where work is based at a yard or depot.

Accident reporting and investigation: All accidents, incidents and near misses are reported promptly and investigated to identify root causes and corrective actions. Records are retained in accordance with policy retention schedules and used to inform ongoing risk reduction.

Monitoring, review and continuous improvement: Health and safety performance is monitored through regular site inspections, toolbox talks and management reviews. Key performance indicators include training completion, incident frequency, and corrective action closure rates. The policy is reviewed at least annually or after significant changes to operations.

Employee welfare and wellbeing: We promote a culture where wellbeing and safe working are intertwined. Measures include safe working hours, hydration guidance in warm weather, and processes to report fatigue or stress. The aim is to sustain a healthy workforce capable of delivering consistent garden services.

Contractor and client responsibilities: While we accept responsibility for our operatives, clients and contractors must communicate relevant site-specific hazards and any access constraints. Collaborating parties should share essential information to enable safe delivery of landscaping and gardening services.

Summary of key controls:

• Documented risk assessments for all tasks
• Training and competence validation for machinery and hazardous tasks
• Provision and enforcement of PPE use
• Equipment maintenance and pre-use checks
• Emergency and first aid arrangements
• Incident reporting, investigation and follow-up

Implementation: The policy is implemented through clear delegation, documented procedures and a culture of continuous improvement. All staff are required to familiarise themselves with this policy and to apply it during every gardening assignment.

Applicability: This policy supports delivery of professional garden maintenance Chessington and broader landscaping activities performed by our gardening company. It is intended to be proportionate, practical and aligned with industry expectations while being adaptable to the specifics of each site and client requirement.

Review: This policy will be reviewed regularly and updated following legislative changes, significant incidents or operational developments. It represents our ongoing commitment to deliver safe, reliable and responsible gardening services across the service area.