Health and Safety Policy — Gardening Norwood

Purpose: This Health and Safety policy sets out the commitment of Gardening Norwood and associated teams to protect the wellbeing of employees, contractors, clients and the public while delivering gardening services. It applies to all operations provided by our Norwood gardening teams, including maintenance, planting, landscaping and seasonal works. The aim is to minimise risk through clear responsibilities, practical control measures and ongoing review.

Scope: The policy covers routine garden maintenance, hedge and tree care, lawn treatments, pesticide and fertiliser use, machinery operation and site setup. It extends to all sites where our gardening services in Norwood and surrounding service areas are carried out, whether domestic, communal or commercial. All staff, subcontractors and visitors must adhere to this policy while on duty.

Policy Statement: We are committed to the prevention of injury and ill health through proportionate assessments and controls. Gardening Norwood will provide the resources, training and equipment necessary to meet this commitment. Everyone working on behalf of the company is expected to cooperate fully with this policy, to follow safe systems of work and to report hazards promptly.

Responsibilities and Duties

Management Responsibilities: Managers and supervisors must ensure that risk assessments are completed and reviewed, that suitable plant and equipment are provided, and that staff receive appropriate instruction and supervision. They must ensure compliance with this policy and undertake regular site inspections.

Employee and Contractor Duties: Every operative, apprentice and subcontractor working as a Norwood gardener has a duty to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and for others affected by their actions. This includes following method statements, wearing assigned PPE, using equipment safely and reporting incidents, near misses or unsafe conditions without delay.

Key responsibilities outlined:

• Carry out pre-start checks on machinery and tools.
• Follow site-specific risk assessments and tool-box talks.
• Report defects, hazards and accidents to supervisors immediately.
• Use personal protective equipment as instructed.

Risk Management, Training and PPE

Risk Assessment: Risk assessments will be conducted for each task and location. These assessments will consider plant, manual handling, slips, trips and falls, hazardous substances, working at height and interacting with members of the public. Control measures will be proportionate and practical, emphasising elimination of hazards where possible and safe alternatives where not.

Training and Competency: All gardening staff will receive induction training, job-specific instruction and refresher briefings. Training covers safe machinery use, pesticide handling, manual handling techniques and traffic awareness when working near roads. Competency records will be maintained and training needs reviewed regularly to support continuous improvement of our gardening services Norwood-wide.

PPE and Equipment: Appropriate personal protective equipment must be provided and worn where required. Typical PPE includes gloves, eye protection, hearing protection, hi-vis clothing and safety footwear. Equipment will be inspected, maintained and stored correctly; defective tools will be removed from use and reported immediately.

Working Safely on Site: Safe systems of work will be implemented for activities such as tree work, hedge cutting, use of ride-on mowers and pesticide application. Traffic management and public protection measures will be used when working in areas with pedestrians or vehicles. A clear method statement and permit-to-work will be applied for higher risk tasks.

Incident Reporting and Investigation: All incidents and near misses must be reported and recorded so that underlying causes can be identified and remedial actions implemented. Investigations will be proportionate and focused on preventing recurrence. Lessons learned will be shared across our Norwood gardeners to strengthen collective safety performance.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement: Health and safety performance will be monitored through routine audits, site checks and review of records and training logs. This policy will be reviewed at least annually or after significant incidents or operational changes. We will engage staff in consultation to encourage practical solutions and a positive safety culture within Gardening Norwood.

Communication and Cooperation: Clear communication channels will be maintained so that safety information, updates and responsibilities are understood by all. Supervisors will hold regular briefings and encourage reporting of hazards. Cooperation between team members, clients and site managers is essential to maintain safe delivery of gardening services in the Norwood area.

Commitment: This policy represents our commitment to protecting people and property while delivering professional gardening and grounds maintenance. By following the arrangements set out here, adhering to safe working practices and continuously improving our approach, Gardening Norwood aims to achieve high standards of health and safety across all operations.

Signed on behalf of the company: The leadership team affirms this policy and expects full cooperation and compliance from all staff and contractors.