Gardener preparing tools before work

Health and Safety Policy — Garden Maintenance Highbury

Garden Maintenance Highbury is committed to protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of our staff, clients, contractors and the public while delivering high-quality garden care Highbury and grounds maintenance. This policy sets out the responsibilities, systems and standards that govern safe working for all gardening operations across our service area. The aim is to prevent harm, reduce risk, and promote a positive safety culture through clear leadership, consistent training and proactive risk control.

Scope and Objectives

Our policy applies to all activities that form part of our garden maintenance services in Highbury, including routine garden upkeep, planting, pruning, turf care, hedge cutting, and seasonal works. We aim to:

Prevent injuries and work-related illness;
Ensure safe use and maintenance of tools and machinery;
Maintain safe working systems and documented procedures;
Comply with industry best practice across the service area.

Team conducting a site risk assessment

Responsibilities

All team members share responsibility for safety. Senior management will lead by example, provide resources and ensure policy implementation. Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for risk assessments, site briefings and ensuring staff competency. Operatives must follow instructions, use PPE and report hazards. Strong emphasis is placed on communication: regular briefings, clear instructions and a 'stop work' principle when a task cannot be carried out safely.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

We carry out dynamic and documented risk assessments for each task and site. Risk control measures include selection of appropriate equipment, exclusion zones for mechanical work, traffic management where relevant, and safe storage of fuels and chemicals. Contractors and temporary workers will be required to follow our systems; where necessary we will review contractors’ own risk management processes before work starts.

First aid kit and emergency response equipment on site Operational Controls: Personal protective equipment (PPE) is provided and maintained. Staff are required to wear suitable eye protection, hearing protection, gloves, boots and hi-vis clothing as the task dictates. Machinery is inspected before use and serviced per manufacturer guidance. Chemical handling follows product instructions; COSHH-style precautions are applied and MSDS-equivalent information is made available to operatives.

Equipment and vehicle safety are central to reducing workplace incidents. Drivers and machine operators must hold appropriate licences and certifications where required. Loading and unloading procedures are documented, and maintenance records are retained. Tools that present foreseeable risks (e.g., chainsaws, shredders) are only used by trained operatives under supervised conditions.

Crew operating machinery with PPE in a residential garden

Incident Management, Reporting and First Aid

All incidents, accidents and near-misses are to be reported immediately and recorded. We investigate incidents to identify root causes and apply corrective actions to prevent recurrence. First aid provisions are available on sites and at our operational base with trained first aiders rostered for fieldwork. Emergency procedures, including contact protocols and external emergency services liaison, are in place and rehearsed during toolbox talks.

Training, Competence and Supervision

We maintain a programme of induction, on-the-job training and refresher courses designed to build competence in horticultural techniques and safe working. Staff receive training specific to hazards they face, such as working at height, use of powered tools, pesticide awareness and manual handling. Regular supervision and performance reviews ensure that training translates into safe practice.

Induction and toolbox talks before new tasks;
Certification tracking for specialist equipment;
Continual professional development and mentoring.

Supervisor conducting a toolbox talk with team members Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement: We conduct regular site inspections and internal audits to assess the effectiveness of controls and identify improvement opportunities. Key performance indicators include incident frequency, near-miss reports, training completion rates and corrective action closure times. This policy is reviewed at planned intervals and updated when operational changes occur.

Environmental and Public Safety: Our operations are planned to minimise environmental impact and protect public safety. Waste management follows the waste hierarchy, with recycling and responsible disposal for green waste and any hazardous residues. Noise and dust control measures are applied to reduce disturbance, and access to work areas is managed to protect members of the public, children and pets.

Policy enforcement is achieved through leadership, supervision and measurable accountability. Managers will ensure that adequate resources are available to meet safety commitments. Employees are encouraged to contribute ideas for safer ways of working and to raise concerns without fear of reprisal. This collaborative approach underpins our ongoing commitment to reducing risk across all Highbury garden maintenance activities.

This Health and Safety Policy is a living document and reflects our commitment to provide safe, reliable and professional garden maintenance in the area. By embedding safety into daily practice we protect people, property and the environment while delivering excellent grounds maintenance Highbury and garden care services. The policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure it remains effective and aligned with best practice.