Health & Safety Policy — Gardening Marylebone

This Health and Safety Policy sets out the commitment of Gardening Marylebone to protect the health, safety and welfare of staff, contractors, clients and the public while delivering professional garden maintenance and landscaping services. The policy applies to all garden operations, from routine maintenance and planting to hedge work and small-scale construction. Our aim is to reduce risk through clear procedures, competent personnel and appropriate equipment so that every job for local gardens and estates is carried out safely and responsibly.

We recognise that safe working practices are integral to quality gardening delivery throughout the Marylebone area and surrounding neighbourhoods. This policy emphasises prevention of injury, minimising environmental harm and ensuring that every team member understands their responsibilities. It is the responsibility of management to provide resources necessary for effective health and safety management and the responsibility of every operative and subcontractor to follow safe systems of work.

Scope, Objectives and Key Commitments

The objectives of this safety policy include: maintaining a safe workplace, controlling hazards, providing training, and ensuring compliance with general safety standards relevant to gardening services. We commit to:

• Systematic risk assessment of all tasks and sites.
• Provision of appropriate personal protective equipment for staff and visitors.
• Ongoing training, supervision and competence checks for gardeners and operatives.
• Safe use and maintenance of machinery, tools and chemicals used in garden care.

Roles and Responsibilities

Company directors and managers will ensure that robust safety arrangements are in place and regularly reviewed. Supervisors and team leaders must ensure that site-specific checks are completed before work begins and that operative briefings are documented. All staff and contractors are required to cooperate with safety systems, report hazards promptly and use PPE provided.

Operational staff including gardeners and horticultural technicians must follow safe operating procedures for powered tools, ladders, and mobile equipment, and must not undertake tasks beyond their training or competence level. Where specialist tasks are required, only trained and authorised personnel will perform them. Records of training and qualifications are maintained for audit and review.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Risk assessments are carried out for each new site and repeated whenever conditions change. Assessments identify hazards such as uneven ground, traffic, utilities, hazardous substances and weather-related risks. Control measures include safe work plans, exclusion zones, traffic management where needed and the use of permits for higher risk activities.

Equipment safety is a priority: powered machinery is maintained to manufacturer standards, pre-use checks are performed, and defective equipment is removed from service. Hand tools are inspected and stored securely when not in use. Batteries and fuel are handled safely with spill kits available for refuelling and containment. All petrol and diesel storage meets safe transfer and storage guidance to prevent fire risk.

Control of hazardous substances (COSHH-type awareness) is enforced where pesticides, herbicides or fertilisers are used. Material data information is available for every substance used and products are applied only by competent staff following label instructions. Emergency measures for exposure are set out in site instructions and operatives are trained in first aid response for chemical incidents.

Personal Protective Equipment and Clothing

We provide PPE appropriate to the task: gloves, eye protection, hearing protection, hi-vis clothing, safety boots and respiratory protection when required. PPE is maintained and replaced as needed. Staff are trained in correct selection, fitting and care of PPE to ensure protection is effective during tree work, brush cutting, mulching or other tasks.

Emergency Procedures, Incident Reporting and First Aid

Emergency arrangements include clear procedures for fire, major injuries, medical emergencies and environmental incidents such as fuel spills. Each site has a nominated first aider and a stocked first aid kit accessible to operatives. Incidents and near-misses are reported immediately and recorded, investigated and used as learning opportunities to prevent recurrence. Prompt reporting supports continuous improvement in our safety performance.

Monitoring, auditing and review are ongoing: regular site inspections, toolbox talks, and periodic safety audits ensure standards are maintained. Safety performance indicators are reviewed at management meetings and this policy is revised at least annually or after any significant incident. Staff consultation is integral to the review process to ensure practical and accepted controls are in place.

All personnel engaged in our gardening services in Marylebone must familiarise themselves with this policy and implement its provisions. Management will support this by providing resources for training, equipment and supervision. By following these procedures we protect the wellbeing of team members, clients and the public while delivering reliable garden maintenance and landscaping. This policy is endorsed by senior management and forms part of everyday operational practice for Marylebone gardeners and our wider garden maintenance operations.