Garden Maintenance Barnes - Health & Safety Policy

Garden Maintenance Barnes is committed to providing a safe working environment for all employees, contractors and visitors engaged in our gardening and grounds maintenance services. Our company embraces proactive health and safety management across all garden care activities, including routine lawn care, pruning, planting, hedge trimming and soft landscaping. This policy outlines the principles, responsibilities and practical controls that underpin our approach to risk reduction, safe operation of equipment and protection of staff and the public while delivering reliable Barnes gardening services.

Policy statement and scope

This health and safety policy applies to all operational tasks carried out by our team, from domestic garden maintenance to commercial grounds upkeep. We will provide appropriate resources so work is planned, risk-assessed and executed safely. Our objectives include: preventing harm, complying with accepted safety best practice, maintaining plant and tools in safe condition, and ensuring everyone has access to relevant training and personal protective equipment. The safety of the community, customers and environment is central to our garden maintenance in Barnes and adjacent service areas.

We recognise that garden maintenance activities carry specific hazards—cutting blades, powered equipment, hazardous substances, manual handling and working near boundaries or traffic. Risk identification and control are completed before work starts. Controls include eliminating unnecessary hazards, substituting safer methods where possible, and applying engineering, administrative and personal protective measures. All operatives are expected to follow safe systems of work and report any unsafe conditions immediately.

Roles and responsibilities

Management has overall responsibility for implementing this health and safety policy and must ensure that suitable training, supervision and equipment are in place. Team leaders and supervisors are responsible for daily risk assessments, tool checks and ensuring staff use safe procedures. Employees and contractors must take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others, use provided PPE, and follow instructions for safe operation of garden machinery and chemicals. Everyone has a duty to stop unsafe work and seek clarification before continuing.

Risk assessments and method statements are conducted for all significant tasks and updated whenever conditions change. These documents set out identified hazards, risk ratings and the control measures to be applied, such as exclusion zones during hedge cutting, traffic management when working by roads, and the safe storage and dilution of plant protection products and fertilizers. A rolling programme of site inspections ensures controls remain effective and that Barnes garden maintenance projects proceed without unnecessary risk.

Training and competence are central to our safety approach. Staff receive induction training, equipment-specific instruction and refresher sessions on safe use of chainsaws, strimmers, mowers and powered tools. We maintain records of qualifications and provide toolbox talks on seasonal risks, manual handling techniques and heat or cold stress. Continuous professional development helps our gardening team manage evolving hazards.

Equipment, maintenance and PPE: All powered equipment used in our garden care services is subject to pre-use checks and regular maintenance records. Guards, cut-off switches and other safety features are kept in place and functioning. Operators must wear appropriate PPE — safety footwear, eye protection, hearing protection, gloves and hi-vis clothing where required. Personal protective equipment is a last line of defence and must be combined with safe working procedures.

Handling materials and hazardous substances: Safe manual handling techniques reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injury when moving soil, timber, planters and paving. Substances such as pesticides, fuels and cleaning agents are stored securely, labelled and used in accordance with manufacturer guidance. For any chemical use, a written control plan is provided outlining safe mixing, application and emergency response measures.

Incident reporting and emergency response: All accidents, near misses and hazardous exposures must be reported promptly so we can investigate, learn and prevent recurrence. First aid kits and trained first aiders are available on site, and emergency procedures are communicated to staff. In the event of a significant incident the company will ensure appropriate medical attention and follow-up actions, including corrective measures and updates to risk assessments or training where needed.

Monitoring, review and continual improvement: We regularly audit our health and safety performance, review incident trends and seek staff input to improve controls. Contractor performance is monitored and subcontractors must meet the same safety expectations as our internal team. This approach ensures that garden maintenance services in Barnes are delivered safely and consistently, with lessons learned feeding back into policies and procedures.

Communication and consultation form part of our safety culture. Safety briefings, documented operating procedures and clear signage maintain awareness of hazards, while open consultation channels encourage staff to propose safer ways of working. Good communication reduces misunderstandings and enables practical, on-the-ground improvements across all garden maintenance tasks.

Policy review: This policy is reviewed periodically and updated in response to operational changes, new equipment or revised best practice. By adhering to this health and safety policy, Garden Maintenance Barnes commits to protecting people, property and the environment while providing quality gardening and groundskeeping services in the local area and surrounding communities.