Health and Safety Policy — Gardeners Plumstead

Gardeners Plumstead is committed to maintaining the highest standards of health and safety across all gardening and grounds maintenance activities. This policy sets out the responsibilities, procedures and safe working practices that apply to our team of Plumstead gardeners, landscape operatives and seasonal staff. The aim is to prevent harm, reduce incidents and ensure every worker and visitor leaves site in the same or better condition than they arrived. Safety is a condition of employment and an integral part of our service delivery.

Our health and safety approach covers routine gardening services, hedge cutting, tree pruning, turfing, planting, and commercial grounds maintenance. Every task carried out by the local gardeners in Plumstead will be preceded by a risk assessment and a dynamic review where conditions change. Managers and supervisors are expected to enforce safe systems of work and to support staff with appropriate equipment, training and supervision. Responsibility for safety lies with all team members, from trainees to senior operatives.

The policy emphasises the need for clear communication on site. Pre-start briefings, toolbox talks and handover notes ensure hazards are identified, controls are understood and emergency procedures are visible. We maintain records of these briefings and periodic checks to verify that standards are being met. The Plumstead gardening team will report all incidents, near misses and unsafe acts through our internal reporting process so that lessons are learned and improvements are made.

Scope, Responsibilities and Training

The policy applies to all employees, contractors and temporary staff engaged by the gardening service. Supervisors must ensure that staff are competent for their roles through induction, job-specific training and refresher sessions. Personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, eye protection, hi-vis clothing and hearing protection will be supplied where required and must be used. Staff are encouraged to raise concerns and to stop work where a serious risk is identified.

We maintain a programme of training that covers manual handling, use of powered tools, working at height, safe ladder use, chainsaw and hedge cutter operation where applicable, and safe handling of fertilizers and plant protection products. Training records are kept up to date, and competency assessments are used to determine readiness to perform higher risk tasks. Regular refreshers ensure skills remain current and align with evolving best practice in horticulture and grounds care.

Hazard identification and risk assessment are fundamental. A documented assessment is completed before work starts, identifying hazards, establishing control measures and assigning responsibility for implementation. Typical controls include exclusion zones, signage, traffic management, use of barriers, safe tool selection and maintaining a tidy work area to reduce slips, trips and falls.

Equipment, Chemicals and Environmental Controls

Equipment must be properly selected, maintained and inspected before use. Powered tools and machinery are serviced according to manufacturer guidelines and kept in good condition. Defective plant is taken out of service until repaired. Battery-powered or well-maintained petrol machinery is preferred to reduce noise and emissions where practicable. Safe storage and secure lock-up of tools after work protects the public and prevents misuse.

The responsible handling of chemicals and soil amendments is essential. We follow appropriate product instructions, use labelled containers, and store substances securely. Staff working with any plant protection products or concentrated fertilizers are trained in correct mixing, dilution and safe application. Spills are managed immediately with suitable absorbents and disposal methods that protect people, property and local flora and fauna.

Emergency procedures include clear arrangements for first aid, incident reporting and medical assistance. First aid kits are carried on site, and trained first aiders are available on larger jobs. In the event of a serious injury or hazard, work will stop until a safe system is restored. All incidents are reviewed to identify corrective actions and prevent recurrence.

Our operational safety measures include safe vehicle loading and unloading, secure transportation of materials and adherence to basic manual handling techniques. Where work affects pedestrians or traffic, temporary traffic controls and signage will be used. We promote a culture where safety conversations are welcomed and where innovation in safer working methods is rewarded.

Monitoring and review are ongoing. Site inspections, audits and performance checks help to ensure the effectiveness of controls and the suitability of our safety arrangements. Outcomes of inspections are recorded, and remedial actions are tracked until completion. This iterative process supports continuous improvement for the gardening service area and our broader grounds management activities.

Policy commitment: The management of Gardeners Plumstead will provide the resources necessary to implement this policy, and all employees are required to cooperate in its execution. By following these principles, our Plumstead gardening staff will work safely and responsibly while delivering high-quality landscaping and maintenance services.

• Key elements: risk assessments, training, PPE, equipment maintenance
• Worker duties: report hazards, follow instructions, attend briefings
• Management duties: monitor compliance, provide resources, review policy