Health & Safety Policy for Gardeners Cranford

Purpose: This Health and Safety Policy sets out the commitments and arrangements of Gardeners Cranford to provide a safe working environment for staff, contractors and the public while delivering professional gardening services. The policy applies to all activities carried out by our Cranford gardeners and the wider gardening services in Cranford network, and defines the approach we take to hazard control, training, incident reporting and continuous improvement. Health and safety are essential elements of quality work and client trust.

Scope: The policy covers routine grounds maintenance, planting, hedge trimming, tree works of limited height, turfing, hard landscaping support tasks and the operation of tools and machinery used by the Gardeners Cranford team. It applies on private and communal properties within our service area and during site transit. This policy excludes specialist arboriculture or confined-space works which require separate method statements and certified contractors.

Policy statement: Gardeners Cranford is committed to preventing accidents, injuries and work-related ill health by implementing proportionate risk management, providing suitable equipment and training, and promoting a safety-first culture among all staff. We will assess hazards and put controls in place so that risks are reduced to as low as is reasonably practicable. All employees and subcontractors are expected to cooperate and follow safe systems of work established by the Cranford gardening team.

Responsibilities

The success of this policy depends on clear roles. The management team holds overall responsibility for the policy's implementation and review. Supervisors and crew leaders must ensure that day-to-day work is planned and executed safely. Individual gardeners are responsible for following instructions and reporting hazards. Visitors and client representatives should be given appropriate information and, where necessary, asked to keep clear of active work areas.

Key duties include:

• Risk assessments: conducting and recording assessments for routine tasks and variable site conditions.
• Safe work plans: preparing simple method statements for high-risk activities.
• Equipment care: ensuring tools and machinery are maintained and used correctly.
• Training: delivering induction and on-the-job training for new and existing staff.

Gardeners Cranford will ensure that written risk assessments and safe operating procedures are proportionate to the scale of work. Where necessary, we will use permit-to-work style checks for potentially hazardous tasks. The policy promotes a positive reporting culture so that near misses, hazards and incidents are recorded and acted upon without blame.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is provided in line with task risk assessments. Typical PPE includes protective gloves, eye protection, hearing protection, hi-visibility clothing and sturdy footwear. PPE is a last line of defence and should be used alongside engineering and administrative controls. Staff are required to inspect PPE before use and report any defects immediately.

Training and competency: All members of the Cranford gardening team will receive an induction covering this policy, basic first aid, manual handling principles and safe use of standard tools and machines such as mowers, strimmers and hand-held power tools. Refresher training will be provided where tasks or equipment change. We will maintain training records and ensure only competent staff operate specialist equipment; apprentices and trainees will always be supervised by a competent person.

Equipment and maintenance: Tools and plant will be maintained to manufacturer standards and checked before use. Petrol and battery-powered equipment must be stored and transported securely. Fuel handling procedures and spill response measures will be in place. Where contractors supply machinery, certificates of maintenance and competence will be reviewed before authorisation to operate on site. Manual handling aids and simple lifting plans will be used for heavy items such as bags of compost, paving slabs or timber.

Hazardous substances: Where pesticides, weedkillers, fertilisers or herbicides are used, Gardeners Cranford will use products responsibly and in accordance with label instructions. COSHH-style risk information will be available, and staff will be trained in safe handling, dilution and disposal. We prefer non-chemical controls where effective and will consult clients before any application.

First aid and emergency procedures: First aid kits and emergency contact protocols will be available on site. At least one trained first-aider will be present on larger jobs. In the event of a serious incident, emergency services will be contacted immediately and the incident reported and investigated by management. Fire safety and access arrangements must be checked during site set-up.

Monitoring and review: This policy will be reviewed annually and after any significant incident, change in work type or legislation. Audits and spot checks will be carried out to ensure compliance and to identify opportunities for improvement. Records of inspections, training and incidents will be retained to monitor performance and support corrective action.

Continuous improvement: Gardeners Cranford encourages employee involvement in safety by seeking suggestions and sharing lessons learned. We aim to maintain a strong safety culture where every team member takes responsibility to work safely and protect colleagues and the public.

Implementation: Management will make resources available to implement this policy effectively, and will ensure that arrangements remain practical and proportionate to the scale of gardening operations. All staff and contracted workers are required to familiarise themselves with this policy and comply with its provisions.

Signed on behalf of Gardeners Cranford. This policy is effective from the date issued and will be reviewed at regular intervals to keep pace with operational needs and best practice in the gardening sector.