Health and Safety Policy for Gardening Services Shortlands
Purpose: This health and safety policy sets out the commitment of Gardening Services Shortlands and affiliated gardening teams to maintain a safe working environment for staff, clients and members of the public. The aim of this policy is to reduce the risk of accidents, injuries and occupational illness while delivering professional garden maintenance, landscaping and horticultural services across the service area. All references to the gardening company Shortlands and Shortlands garden care in this document are made to describe the operating scope and are not a substitute for site-specific risk assessments.
Scope and Objectives
This policy applies to all employees, contractors and subcontractors engaged in garden maintenance, tree work, turf management, planting and grounds upkeep. Objectives include: preventing work-related injuries, promoting safe working practices, ensuring compliance with industry standards, and encouraging ongoing training. The policy supports a culture where safety is integral to every job, whether routine lawn mowing, hedge trimming or small landscape projects provided by gardening services in Shortlands.
Responsibilities
Management is responsible for providing resources, training and equipment, and for carrying out regular audits. Employees have a duty to follow safe systems of work, report hazards and use personal protective equipment (PPE). Supervisors must ensure that garden maintenance Shortlands tasks are planned, that machinery is maintained, and that permits or authorisations are sought when required. Everyone is encouraged to be proactive about safety and to participate in toolbox talks and briefings.Risk Assessment and Safe Systems
Each job starts with a dynamic or documented risk assessment to identify hazards such as uneven terrain, proximity to public footpaths, buried services, use of powered equipment, chemical handling and manual handling tasks. Control measures are selected by risk hierarchy: eliminate, substitute, engineer, administrate and use PPE. The assessment is reviewed when site conditions change or before more complex projects undertaken by horticultural services Shortlands.Personal Protective Equipment and Clothing
Suitable PPE must be provided and worn where risk assessments indicate it is necessary: gloves, eye and ear protection, hi-vis clothing, protective boots and chainsaw protective trousers where appropriate. Clothing must be maintained in a serviceable condition. The use of PPE complements other engineering and administrative controls and is not a standalone solution.
Equipment and Machinery
All powered equipment — including ride-on mowers, stump grinders, chainsaws and hedge trimmers — must be inspected, serviced and documented in a maintenance log. Only competent, authorised personnel should operate heavy or specialist tools. Safe guarding, emergency stop mechanisms and correct attachments should be confirmed before use. Electrical equipment must be PAT tested where required and extension leads inspected prior to connection.
Chemicals, Pesticides and Fertilisers
The storage, transport and application of herbicides, pesticides and fertilisers must follow manufacturer instructions and safety data sheets. Operators must be trained in COSHH awareness and use appropriate PPE. Spill kits and containment measures should be available on site. Non-chemical alternatives and integrated pest management should be considered where practical to minimise reliance on hazardous substances during gardening services Shortlands operations.Emergency Procedures and First Aid Emergency response plans are in place for incidents such as serious injury, chemical spill or fire. First aid kits must be readily accessible, and at least one trained first aider should be on larger or higher risk sites. Emergency contacts for local emergency services are kept on a site-specific information sheet, and all employees are briefed on the location of escape routes and assembly points before starting work.
Training, Monitoring and Continuous Improvement
The company provides induction training, role-specific courses and periodic refresher sessions for safe equipment use, manual handling, working at height, and safe pesticide application. Performance is monitored through site inspections, incident reporting, near-miss records and routine audits. A simple action plan is produced from audits to track corrective measures and improvements to the safety management system. Employees are encouraged to suggest safer ways of working, and successes are shared during team briefings to reinforce positive safety culture.Safe Working Practices
Practical safe working practices include:- carrying out pre-start equipment checks;
- keeping work areas tidy and tools stored safely;
- setting up exclusion zones around operating machinery;
- using correct lifting techniques and team lifts for bulky items;
- considering pedestrian and public safety where work is adjacent to walkways.
Reporting and Investigation All incidents, injuries and near misses must be reported promptly. Investigations aim to identify root causes and prevent recurrence rather than to attribute blame. Records are retained to inform risk assessments, training needs and policy adjustments. Learnings feed into scheduled reviews of this policy and associated procedures.
Policy Review and Commitment This health and safety policy is reviewed regularly and whenever significant changes occur in operations or legislation. Management and staff share responsibility for maintaining a safe workplace; by committing to the principles set out here, Gardening Services Shortlands and its teams work to deliver high-quality garden care with safety as a core value.
