Gardeners Millbank Health and Safety Policy

Gardeners Millbank is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, clients, visitors, and members of the public who may be affected by our gardening and grounds maintenance activities. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety as an integral part of our day-to-day operations and long-term business planning.

Policy Aims and Objectives

Our primary aim is to prevent injury, ill health, and damage to property or the environment arising from our gardening work. We will identify, assess, and control risks associated with our services, including landscaping, lawn care, planting, hedge cutting, tree work, and the use of machinery and garden chemicals. We will review our arrangements regularly to ensure they remain effective, practical, and appropriate for the scale and nature of our business.

Management Responsibilities

The management of Gardeners Millbank has overall responsibility for implementing and maintaining this Health and Safety Policy. This includes ensuring that appropriate resources, training, and supervision are provided, that safe systems of work are developed and followed, and that all relevant health and safety requirements are considered when planning work.

Managers and supervisors will lead by example, promote a positive safety culture, and ensure that health and safety is given equal priority to quality, customer care, and productivity. They will monitor working practices, investigate accidents, near misses and complaints, and take corrective action where necessary.

Employee Responsibilities

All Gardeners Millbank employees, including temporary and seasonal staff, have a legal and moral duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions. Employees must follow safety instructions, use equipment properly, wear the protective clothing provided, and report hazards, defects, or incidents without delay.

Employees must not misuse or interfere with anything provided in the interests of health, safety, or welfare. They are expected to co operate fully with management in the implementation of this policy and any associated procedures or guidance notes.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We will conduct suitable and proportionate risk assessments for our gardening activities, including routine maintenance, landscaping projects, and one off tasks. These assessments will identify significant hazards such as manual handling, machinery use, slips and trips, work at height, exposure to noise, vibration, dust, sun, and adverse weather, as well as the use and storage of fuels, pesticides, and other substances.

On the basis of these assessments, we will develop and implement safe working methods designed to eliminate or reduce risk so far as is reasonably practicable. These methods will be communicated clearly to all employees who will receive appropriate training and supervision to ensure they are understood and followed.

Training, Instruction and Supervision

Gardeners Millbank will ensure that employees receive suitable training and instruction relevant to their role, experience, and the tasks they carry out. This includes induction training, on the job instruction, and refresher training as required. Specific training will be provided for the safe use of powered machinery, hand tools, ladders, and any equipment requiring specialist skills.

Employees who handle or apply garden chemicals will receive training covering identification, safe use, storage, disposal, and emergency measures. Supervisors will monitor performance, provide guidance, and ensure that no one undertakes work for which they are not competent and properly trained.

Equipment, Machinery and Personal Protective Equipment

All tools, machinery, and vehicles used by Gardeners Millbank will be selected, maintained, and inspected to ensure they are safe and suitable for the intended purpose. Defective or unsafe equipment will be removed from use and repaired or replaced as necessary.

We will provide appropriate personal protective equipment, such as gloves, safety footwear, eye and ear protection, high visibility clothing, and respiratory protection where required by risk assessment. Employees must use this equipment correctly, keep it in good condition, and report any loss or damage promptly.

Use of Chemicals and Hazardous Substances

Where hazardous substances are used, such as fuels, oils, fertilisers, and plant protection products, we will assess the risks and put in place controls to prevent harm. This includes safe storage, clearly labelled containers, spill prevention, and the use of appropriate protective equipment.

Only trained and authorised personnel may handle, mix, or apply such substances. Measures will be taken to minimise impacts on clients, neighbours, wildlife, and the wider environment, including careful timing and application of treatments and strict adherence to product instructions.

Manual Handling and Work at Height

Our gardening work often involves lifting, carrying, and moving soil, plants, equipment, and waste. We will avoid hazardous manual handling where reasonably practicable by using mechanical aids or alternative methods. Where manual handling cannot be avoided, we will provide training in safe lifting techniques and plan tasks to reduce the risk of strains and other injuries.

Any work undertaken at height, such as pruning, tree work, or access to raised beds and structures, will be carefully planned and controlled. Only suitable equipment, such as ladders, platforms, or specialist access systems, will be used and only by employees who are trained and authorised.

Protecting Clients and the Public

Many of our activities are carried out in residential gardens, shared outdoor spaces, and communal areas. We will take all reasonable steps to protect clients, visitors, neighbours, and passers by from risks arising from our work. This may include using barriers or signs, safe storage of tools and materials, careful vehicle movements, and scheduling noisy or disruptive work at appropriate times.

We will maintain good housekeeping on site, keeping work areas tidy and removing waste promptly to reduce the risk of trips, falls, and other incidents.

Accidents, Incidents and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, incidents, and near misses arising from our gardening work must be reported to management as soon as possible. We will record, investigate, and review these events to identify causes and take action to prevent a recurrence.

Emergency arrangements will be in place for dealing with injuries, fire, chemical spills, and other foreseeable emergencies. Employees will know how to summon assistance, how to use basic first aid resources, and how to make work areas safe in the event of an incident.

Environmental and Welfare Considerations

We recognise that responsible gardening services must consider both safety and environmental protection. We will seek to minimise pollution, reduce waste, and use resources efficiently. Where possible, we will recycle green waste and choose products with a lower environmental impact.

We will also provide suitable welfare arrangements for our employees while at work, including reasonable access to rest breaks, drinking water, and sanitary facilities, in line with the nature and location of our gardening activities.

Consultation, Monitoring and Review

Gardeners Millbank encourages open communication about health and safety. Employees are invited to raise concerns, suggest improvements, and participate in the ongoing development of safe working practices. We will monitor our performance through inspections, feedback, and incident data, and use this information to improve our systems.

This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed at regular intervals and whenever there are significant changes to our operations, legislation, or recognised industry guidance. Updated versions will be communicated to all employees and made available to clients on request.