Health & Safety Policy — Gardener Brompton

Purpose: This policy sets out the standards and procedures that the gardening business operating as Gardener Brompton follows to protect employees, clients, contractors and the public. The aim is to ensure consistent, professional and safe delivery of gardening services in Brompton and surrounding areas while maintaining clear expectations for risk control, incident reporting and continuous improvement. This document applies to all team members and associates engaged in grounds maintenance, landscaping, pruning, hedge cutting, and general garden care.

Scope: The policy covers operational activity on private and communal property, small commercial sites and green spaces where a Brompton gardener carries out works. It addresses routine tasks such as mowing, planting, waste handling, pesticide application, manual handling, use of hand tools and powered equipment, working at height and interaction with third parties. All staff are required to understand and follow this policy and any site-specific instructions.

Policy statement: The gardening company Brompton is committed to preventing workplace injury and ill health. We will identify hazards, assess risks, implement control measures and provide appropriate training and equipment. Safety is a core part of our service delivery; no task should be performed where there is an unacceptable level of risk. Managers and supervisors will ensure compliance and all employees must cooperate with safety procedures and report hazards promptly.

Responsibilities and roles

Management responsibilities: Senior staff will ensure risk assessments are completed, safe systems of work are in place and that statutory obligations are met. They will allocate resources for training, PPE, maintenance of machinery and appropriate supervision. Records of training, equipment checks and incidents will be maintained and reviewed regularly.

Employee responsibilities: Every Brompton gardener and operative must take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others affected by their actions. This includes following procedures, using provided PPE, reporting defects in tools or vehicles and participating in training. Employees should not undertake tasks beyond their competence or without required controls in place.

Contractors and visitors: Where third-party contractors or visitors are present, they must be informed of site-specific risks and instructions. Subcontracted landscapers and seasonal workers are expected to comply with this policy and demonstrate evidence of training and competence when requested.

Risk assessment and control measures

Risk assessments will be carried out for all regular activities and specific site hazards. Controls follow the hierarchy: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls and personal protective equipment. Typical measures include safe storage of chemicals, guarding of moving parts, secure ladder use, clear exclusion zones during mechanical works and traffic management where relevant.

Safe systems and equipment: Tools and machinery will be maintained to manufacturer standards and inspected before use. PPE such as gloves, eye protection, ear defenders, hi-vis and steel-toe footwear will be provided where needed. Employees will receive instruction in safe operation of strimmers, mowers, chainsaws and other powered equipment. Manual handling risks will be reduced by team lifts, mechanical aids and appropriate task planning.

Training and competence: The gardening team will receive induction training, refresher courses and job-specific instruction, including first aid, safe chemical handling and emergency procedures. Competence assessments will be recorded and reviewed. Where specialist operations are required, only qualified personnel will be assigned.

Emergency procedures and incident management: Clear procedures for dealing with accidents, near misses, fire and medical emergencies will be established. Employees must know how to summon assistance, secure a site and preserve evidence of incidents for investigation. All accidents and near misses will be recorded, investigated and used to improve controls.

Monitoring, review and continuous improvement: Regular workplace inspections, audits and review of incident records will support continuous improvement. This policy will be reviewed at regular intervals or after significant changes in operations or following a serious incident. Feedback from staff will be sought to refine safe working arrangements without compromising standards.

Key operational controls (summary):

• Pre-work site assessment and dynamic risk checks
• Use of correctly maintained PPE and machinery
• Clear communication and supervision on-site
• Appropriate waste handling and chemical use procedures
• Competence-based task assignment and training records

Health and welfare: The company recognises the importance of employee wellbeing. Measures include access to shade and hydration, breaks for strenuous tasks, provision of first-aid kits and arrangements for medical assistance where required. Staff with specific medical conditions must inform a manager confidentially so that reasonable adjustments can be made to keep everyone safe.

Communication and worker engagement: Safety is improved when teams are engaged. Toolbox talks, briefings before tasks and open channels for reporting hazards are standard. Workers are encouraged to propose safer methods and to stop work where immediate danger is present. Strong leadership and visible commitment are essential to embed a positive safety culture.

Implementation and certification: This policy will be made available to all staff and applied across all gardening services provided by Gardener Brompton. Management will ensure the policy is understood, implemented and audited. Strong adherence to these requirements will help protect our workforce, clients and the reputation of our Brompton gardening operation.