Health and Safety Policy for Gardening Putney

This Health and Safety Policy sets out the commitment of Gardening Putney and its team of Putney gardeners to provide safe, healthy and compliant garden maintenance and landscaping services across our service area. It outlines responsibilities, risk control measures and working standards for routine grounds care, tree work, planting and landscape management. The aim is to protect staff, clients, contractors and the public while delivering high quality Putney gardening services.

The policy applies to all operatives, sub-contractors and visitors engaged in garden maintenance, soft landscaping, hedge and shrub care, and related tasks. Our approach is preventative and proportionate: we identify hazards, assess risks and apply controls to reduce the likelihood of incidents. Everyone on site must follow safe systems of work and wear appropriate protective equipment at all times.

Scope, duties and responsibilities

Gardening Putney's scope covers domestic and commercial garden projects and seasonal maintenance within the region. The company director holds overall responsibility for health and safety policy, ensuring that resources, training and supervision are allocated. Supervisors and team leaders implement daily safe work plans and monitor compliance. Each Putney gardening operative must take reasonable care of their own safety and that of others and report hazards promptly.

Managers will carry out regular reviews of procedures and ensure that risk assessments reflect current practice. Records of training, equipment maintenance and incident reporting are maintained and periodically audited. Sub-contractors engaged by this gardening company Putney are required to demonstrate equivalent safety standards before work is accepted.

Training and competence are central to our safety culture: inductions, tool-specific instruction and refresher sessions are provided. Staff handling chemicals or powered equipment receive practical training and written instructions. We encourage an open culture where near-misses and unsafe conditions are reported without fear of retribution so that lessons can be applied across all Putney garden care activities.

Risk assessment and control measures

All jobs are to be preceded by a site-specific risk assessment, proportionate to the activity. Assessments identify common hazards such as slips, trips and falls, manual handling injuries, contact with blades or rotating equipment, hazardous plants and chemical exposure. Controls include safe access, exclusion zones, machinery guards, correct lifting techniques and substitution with less hazardous products where possible.

Typical control measures implemented by our Putney gardening teams include:

• Pre-start equipment checks and regular maintenance to ensure tools are safe.
• Use of the correct PPE (gloves, eye protection, hearing protection, high-visibility clothing and appropriate footwear).
• Safe storage and labelled containers for fuels and garden chemicals, with COSHH considerations where applicable.
• Traffic management on roadside verges and clear signage to protect staff and passers-by.

Managers ensure that method statements are prepared for higher-risk tasks such as tree pruning, stump removal, and the use of pedestrian rollers or chipper/shredder operations in garden projects.

Plant, equipment and vehicle safety are enforced through scheduled inspections and servicing. Operatives are trained to select the right tool for the task and to operate machinery only if competent. Batteries and fuel are stored and transported securely, and spill kits are available for fuel containment. Where mechanical aids reduce manual handling risk, they are preferred.

Emergency procedures, first aid and incident response are defined so that all team members know how to react. At least one trained first aider is present on larger sites. In the event of an incident, the area is made safe, first aid is given and the event is recorded. Lessons learned are communicated and corrective actions taken to prevent recurrence.

Communication and consultation with staff and sub-contractors underpin safe working. Regular briefings before tasks, toolbox talks and on-the-job supervision ensure that everyone understands hazards and control measures. Supervisors must ensure that instructions are understood and that any concerns are escalated to management without delay.

Performance monitoring is carried out through site inspections, review of incident reports and periodic audits. Key performance indicators include evidence of up-to-date risk assessments, completed training records and correct use of PPE and safety signage during garden maintenance operations. Where shortfalls are identified, targeted action plans are implemented.

Environmental considerations are integrated into our safety approach: safe storage and disposal of garden waste, responsible use of pesticides, and measures to protect soil and watercourses during landscaping work. The gardening company Putney aims to deliver services that are safe and sustainable for clients and the local environment.

This policy will be reviewed annually or sooner following an incident or significant change in operations. All staff are required to familiarise themselves with its contents and apply the standards set out here. The leadership team remains committed to continuous improvement in the delivery of safe Putney gardening services and the protection of everyone affected by our work.