Health & Safety Policy — Gardeners Bethnal Green
Gardeners Bethnal Green is committed to providing a safe working environment for all staff, contractors and members of the public who may be affected by our gardening and landscape maintenance activities. This policy sets out the framework used by our team of Bethnal Green gardeners and garden maintenance operatives to reduce risk, comply with applicable health and safety standards and continually improve our safety performance. Safety is integral to every visit, service and project we undertake.Our purpose is to manage hazards associated with horticultural work, landscaping and grounds maintenance while delivering high-quality gardening services in Bethnal Green and surrounding service areas. We will appoint competent supervisors, ensure that staff receive appropriate training and that all work is planned to minimise risks. The policy applies to routine garden care, seasonal work, plant health operations and any bespoke installations carried out by our gardening company.
All employees, subcontractors and visitors are expected to follow safe systems of work. Responsibilities are defined as follows: the management team will lead on policy implementation and review; supervisors will ensure method statements and risk controls are available; operatives and gardeners must follow instructions, use personal protective equipment (PPE) and report hazards promptly. Everyone is encouraged to contribute suggestions for safety improvements and to participate in toolbox talks and site briefings.
Risk Assessment, Control Measures and Safe Work Practices
Risk assessments will be conducted for all tasks and sites to identify hazards such as manual handling, use of machinery, chemicals, working at height and public interaction. Controls will follow the hierarchy of risk reduction: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls and PPE. Garden maintenance Bethnal Green operatives use suitable procedures for tasks such as hedge cutting, lawn treatment, tree work and pesticide application.
Method statements will be prepared for higher risk or complex operations. This includes isolation procedures for machinery, locked-out equipment checks, safe systems for using portable petrol or battery-powered tools and clear exclusion zones to protect passers-by. A permit-to-work approach will be applied when contractors are engaged or when work presents additional hazards. Emergency procedures and first aid arrangements will be visible and explained at the start of each job.
Personal protective equipment such as gloves, eye protection, hearing protection, hi-visibility clothing and appropriate footwear will be provided and maintained. Operators must ensure tools are maintained in a safe condition and that consumables (e.g., fuel, lubricants, chemicals) are stored securely. We will keep an inventory of machinery, schedule maintenance and ensure operators are trained and competent to use specific equipment.
Training, Competence and Supervision
Our training programme covers induction, task-specific training, refreshers for high-risk tasks and updates on new legislation or best practice. Bethnal Green gardening teams will maintain training records and certificates for qualifications such as chainsaw use, pesticide application and lifting operations where applicable. Supervision levels will match the risk and complexity of tasks.
Incident reporting and investigation procedures ensure lessons are learned. All accidents, near-misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported without delay. Managers will investigate to identify root causes and implement corrective actions. Records will be used to identify trends and to inform changes to processes, training or equipment.
Our safety management includes regular audits and reviews of procedures to verify compliance and effectiveness. Performance metrics, such as incident rates, toolbox talk attendance and equipment inspection completion, will be monitored. We will review this policy annually and whenever there is a significant change in our activities, equipment or legislation. Continuous improvement is a core objective.
Implementation and Cooperation: All staff and associated contractors are required to cooperate fully with this policy. Managers will ensure resources are available to implement controls, and employees will take reasonable care for their own safety and that of others. Failure to comply with safe working practices may result in disciplinary action. The organisation is committed to promoting a positive safety culture where concerns can be raised openly and addressed promptly.
Key actions:
- Conduct and document risk assessments for each job and site;
- Provide appropriate training, supervision and competence checks;
- Maintain and inspect equipment regularly;
- Supply and enforce the use of PPE; use incident reporting to prevent recurrence;
- Ensure emergency and first-aid arrangements are in place.
By adhering to this policy, our gardening company and its teams will reduce harm, protect the public and maintain a professional standard for all horticultural and grounds maintenance services. Safety and quality go hand in hand in every garden we care for, whether routine lawn care, planting schemes or seasonal clearance work. This policy is endorsed by senior management and is supported by operational procedures and training records which are available internally to staff and contractors responsible for implementation.
