Health and Safety Policy – Gardener Barking

The following policy outlines the commitment of Gardener Barking and associated gardening teams to maintain a safe working environment while delivering high-quality gardening services in Barking and surrounding areas. This document sets out responsibilities, safe working practices, and procedures for managing risk on worksites, including domestic gardens, communal green spaces and commercial landscaping projects. It is intended to guide staff, subcontractors and clients in understanding how we prioritise safety without compromising the quality of our gardening work.

All operatives engaged by Gardener Barking and our Barking gardener teams must comply with this policy. The principles applied are consistent across our service area and are designed to be practical and proportional to the range of tasks undertaken by our gardeners, from hedge trimming and lawn care to tree pruning and soft landscaping. The policy avoids jurisdiction-specific legal wording, focusing instead on best practice, risk prevention and clear accountability.

Key Principles and Objectives

Our core health and safety objectives are to:

• Ensure the welfare and safety of staff, subcontractors and the public;
• Prevent work-related injuries and occupational ill-health;
• Maintain safe plant, tools and equipment for all gardening services;
• Promote a culture of hazard awareness and continuous improvement.

These commitments are delivered through training, supervision and monitoring, and through the use of documented safe systems of work for higher-risk activities.

Responsibilities

Management: Gardener Barking's management is responsible for providing resources, ensuring suitable training and conducting regular safety reviews. Managers will implement risk assessments, ensure equipment is maintained and enforce safe practices across the team.

Employees and Operatives: All gardeners and operatives working for the Barking gardening team must take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others. This includes following safe systems of work, using personal protective equipment (PPE) correctly, reporting hazards and cooperating with safety instructions.

Subcontractors: When work is subcontracted, the contractor is required to follow the same safety standards as our in-house operatives. Contracts will include clear safety requirements and confirmation that subcontractors have suitable competence and insurance for the work they undertake.

Risk assessment is central to our approach. Before starting any job, a documented risk assessment will be carried out to identify hazards such as unstable trees, overhead services, chemical use (e.g., herbicides), manual handling risks and traffic near work sites. Where hazards are identified, we will implement control measures using the hierarchy of controls: eliminate, substitute, engineer controls, administrative controls and PPE. These measures are applied consistently across gardening services in Barking and nearby districts.

Training and Competence: We invest in ongoing training to ensure competence. Training covers safe operation of machinery (mowers, chainsaws, shredders), safe ladder use, manual handling techniques, and safe application of garden chemicals. Training records are maintained and reviewed regularly to ensure all staff remain qualified and confident to perform their duties safely.

Equipment and Maintenance: Tools and machinery present significant risks if not properly maintained. All equipment used by our Barking gardener teams is inspected before use and serviced according to manufacturer guidance. Faulty tools are removed from service immediately and reported. We maintain an inventory of PPE and replace items as required to ensure protection for every operative.

Site Safety and Public Protection: When working on customer properties, public spaces or near roads, we take measures to protect passers-by and occupants. This includes clear signage, barriers where necessary, and maintaining tidy work areas to prevent tripping hazards. We coordinate with clients to schedule work in a way that minimises disruption and risk to members of the public.

Incident Reporting and Investigation: Any accident, near miss or dangerous occurrence must be reported promptly. We investigate incidents to establish root causes and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence. Records of incidents are maintained and periodically reviewed as part of our continuous improvement processes.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement: This policy is reviewed periodically to reflect changes in our work, technology and best practice in landscaping and grounds maintenance. We carry out regular site inspections and audits to monitor compliance with this policy and to identify opportunities for improving our safety performance. Employees are encouraged to suggest improvements and participate in safety consultations.

Specific Safe Work Practices

To support consistent delivery of safe gardening services in Barking, the following practices are mandatory:

• Use of appropriate PPE (gloves, eye protection, hearing protection, hi-vis clothing);
• Pre-use checks for all power equipment and immediate reporting of defects;
• Safe manual handling techniques and use of mechanical aids where possible;
• Controlled use and storage of chemicals with clear labelling and COSHH-style precautions;
• Safe working at height practices, including correct ladder selection and securing.

Commitment Statement

Gardener Barking is committed to providing a safe workplace and to protect the health of our staff, clients and the public. Safety is integral to the way we operate and to the professional gardening service we provide across our service area. By following the measures set out in this policy, we reduce risk, protect people and ensure reliable, responsible landscaping services.

Implementation: This policy is communicated to all staff and is available for inspection by interested parties. Managers will ensure it is implemented through routine checks, training and discussions at team briefings. Anyone with concerns about safety should raise them with a supervisor immediately so hazards can be addressed without delay.

Review Date: This policy will be reviewed at least annually or whenever there is a significant change to our operations, equipment or scope of work. Updates will be communicated to all staff and reflected in training and site procedures.

End of Policy – This document establishes clear expectations for safe conduct and provides the framework through which Gardener Barking manages health and safety across all gardening and landscaping activities within its normal service area.

Signed on behalf of the management team. Effective from the date of issue.