Health and Safety Policy — Gardening Twickenham

Gardening Twickenham is committed to providing a safe working environment for staff, clients and the public during delivery of garden maintenance, landscaping and horticultural services. This health and safety policy sets out responsibilities, safe systems of work and core controls that apply to all site and garden work undertaken within our service area. Our approach balances practical risk control with continuous improvement to minimise incidents and protect wellbeing.

We recognise that good safety management supports reliable service delivery for household and commercial customers. The policy applies to all employees, contractors and volunteers engaged in Twickenham gardening and nearby neighbourhood projects. Managers are responsible for implementing the policy; every team member is expected to follow safe working rules and report hazards.

Scope and Principles

Scope: this policy covers routine garden care, hedge and tree work, turfing, planting, use of hand and powered equipment, pesticide and fertiliser handling, and waste removal. Principles include risk assessment, proportional controls, training, PPE, equipment maintenance and emergency preparedness. We aim to prevent injuries and minimise environmental impacts while delivering professional garden services in Twickenham and surrounding areas.

Responsibilities and Training

Supervisors will ensure that site-specific risk assessments are completed before work begins and that control measures are in place. Staff receive training on safe use of tools, manual handling, ladder safety, and chemical safety. New employees are inducted to our health and safety expectations, and periodic refresher training is scheduled to maintain competence.

Risk assessments are documented and proportionate to the task. Where hazards cannot be fully eliminated, we apply a hierarchy of control: eliminate, substitute, engineer, administrate and provide PPE. Staff are encouraged to use safe work procedures and to stop work and seek advice if unexpected dangers arise, such as unstable terrain, overhead services, or access constraints on residential properties.

Equipment safety is a priority: powered tools are inspected before use, defective items are reported and taken out of service, and guards and safety devices are never removed. Battery and petrol-powered machinery are handled in line with manufacturer guidance and stored securely. Regular maintenance records are kept to ensure reliability and safety.

Control measures for common tasks include:

• Site-specific risk assessments prior to work
• Use of appropriate PPE (gloves, eye protection, high-vis, hearing protection)
• Manual handling guidance and use of mechanical aids where possible
• Safe use and storage of chemicals with secure containers and clear labels
• Traffic and pedestrian management on roadside or driveway work

We maintain clear incident reporting procedures. Any accident, near-miss, or hazard is recorded and reviewed so we can reduce recurrence. Lessons learned from investigations lead to immediate corrective actions and updates to safe work procedures. Our aim is to ensure that every event informs improvement.

Emergency arrangements are in place for medical incidents, fire and environmental spills. Staff carry first-aid kits appropriate to the tasks undertaken and know how to contact emergency services. For chemical exposure or significant injury, protocols include isolation of the hazard, first aid and escalation to emergency care where necessary.

Engagement with clients and adjacent occupants is part of our safety plan. We agree safe access routes, cordon off hazardous areas and inform householders of works that may affect them. Where necessary, we require clients to secure pets and supervise children to prevent accidental entry to working zones during operations.

Monitoring and review are ongoing. Management conducts periodic audits and toolbox talks to share safety updates and reinforce expectations. Performance indicators include incident frequency, near-miss reports, training completion and equipment inspection compliance. The policy is reviewed annually or sooner if circumstances change.

Commitment: Gardening Twickenham is committed to ensuring this health and safety policy is implemented effectively. Everyone working with the company is expected to co-operate with the policy and contribute to a safer working environment. By embedding risk-aware practices in everyday gardening and landscape work we protect people, property and the local environment while delivering quality gardening services in Twickenham and neighbouring communities.

Key obligations at a glance:

• Managers: ensure risk assessments, training and resources are provided
• Employees: follow procedures, use PPE and report hazards
• Contractors: meet the same standards and coordinate with our teams

This policy supports operational protocols and is part of our wider commitment to health, safety and environment. It is communicated to all personnel and is accessible for review. Continuous improvement, practical controls and shared responsibility underpin our approach to safe garden maintenance and landscaping across the areas we serve.