Health and Safety Policy for Garden Maintenance Shepherds Bush

Garden Maintenance Shepherds Bush is committed to providing safe, reliable, and professional garden care across our service area. This health and safety policy sets out the principles and procedures we follow to protect staff, clients, visitors, and the wider public while carrying out landscaping, pruning, lawn care and general garden maintenance tasks. Our aim is to embed a safety-first culture within every job, ensuring that risk management is an integral part of all gardening operations.

We recognise that effective garden maintenance in Shepherds Bush requires clear leadership, training, and continual review of practices. Managers and supervisors are responsible for implementing this policy on every site, with staff empowered to stop work if they believe there is a risk to safety. Personal protective equipment, safe machinery use, and environmentally responsible handling of chemicals are among the priority areas governed by our procedures.

All operatives receive site-specific briefings and appropriate training before starting work. This includes instruction on manual handling techniques, safe use of handheld and powered tools, working at heights when pruning trees or hedges, and procedures for dealing with hazardous plants or substances. We keep detailed records of training and competency and ensure that gardening services Shepherds Bush are delivered by competent personnel who understand their responsibilities.

Before any job begins, a formal risk assessment is completed to identify hazards and implement control measures. Typical hazards in garden work include uneven ground, buried services, moving vehicles, power tools, pesticide use, and weather-related risks. Controls may include exclusion zones, signage, safe systems of work, and ensuring that all machinery is well maintained and fitted with appropriate guards.

We use regular equipment inspections and routine maintenance schedules to reduce the likelihood of mechanical failures. All powered tools are PAT tested where applicable and serviced according to manufacturers’ guidance. Our policies require that fuel-powered machinery is refuelled away from ignition sources and stored securely when not in use to prevent accidental spillage or theft.

In addition to physical controls, we implement administrative measures such as job rotation to avoid repetitive strain injuries, clear communication protocols on multi-person tasks, and emergency response plans. Our teams are trained in first aid and emergency procedures, and we maintain first aid kits and spill kits on every vehicle and at designated storage locations.

Use of fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides is kept to a minimum and only applied by qualified staff where necessary. We follow manufacturer instructions and safety data sheets, and ensure chemicals are transported and stored in secure, labelled containers. As part of our environmental responsibility, we prioritise organic and low-toxicity products wherever effective, reducing potential harm to clients, pets and wildlife.

Waste management protocols require that green waste is disposed of responsibly and recycled where possible. Contaminated materials are segregated and handled in line with current waste regulations. Our teams are briefed on protecting watercourses and avoiding runoff that could cause environmental damage.

To support safe working, we maintain clear records of all chemical usage and disposal. Clients are informed about any treatments applied to their gardens and given aftercare advice to reduce accidental exposure. This transparency forms part of our commitment to high-quality and safe Shepherds Bush garden care.

We enforce a strict policy on vehicle and traffic safety during garden operations. Vehicles are parked to minimise obstruction, high-visibility clothing is worn near roads, and traffic management is implemented when necessary. Our drivers follow defensive driving practices and are briefed on secure equipment loading to prevent items from falling during transit.

Reporting and continual improvement are essential components of our health and safety approach. Staff are encouraged to report near misses, hazards, and incidents without fear of reprisal. Reported issues are investigated promptly, corrective actions recorded, and lessons learned are shared across the team. Regular safety audits and reviews ensure the policy stays relevant and effective.

Responsibilities are clearly assigned: senior management sets the strategic direction and provides resources, supervisors ensure day-to-day compliance, and every operative must follow safe systems of work. Contractors and subcontractors are expected to comply with our standards and demonstrate equivalent competence and insurance cover for their activities.

Our commitment extends beyond compliance: we strive to create a culture where safety, quality and customer satisfaction go hand in hand. Training, investment in safer equipment, and ongoing dialogue with staff and clients help us deliver dependable lawn and garden maintenance services while minimising risk.

Key elements of this policy include clear communication, documented procedures, regular training, and a proactive approach to hazard control. We maintain a suite of up-to-date risk assessments, method statements, and safety checklists that are applied to all tasks, from routine lawn mowing to complex landscape work.

Review and adoption: this health and safety policy is reviewed periodically and updated to reflect operational changes or new best practices. By adhering to these standards, our garden maintenance teams aim to protect everyone involved and provide professional, safe gardening services across the communities we serve.