Health & Safety Policy — Gardening Services Hornsey

Gardening Services Hornsey is committed to providing safe, reliable and professional garden maintenance and landscaping while protecting the health of our staff, clients and the public. This policy sets out the principles and responsibilities that inform how Hornsey gardening services operate on site and off site. It applies to all employees, contractors and subcontractors engaged in garden care in the Hornsey area and nearby service locations.

Scope and Objectives: Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health and environmental harm by embedding safe systems of work into every job. The scope covers routine garden maintenance, hedge cutting, tree works, turfing, planting, hard landscaping and seasonal services. We aim to identify risks in advance and control them to as low as reasonably practicable.

Roles and Responsibilities: Management retains ultimate accountability for safety and will ensure adequate resources, training and monitoring. Supervisors are responsible for carrying out site risk assessments and ensuring teams follow safe working procedures. Employees must follow instructions, use provided personal protective equipment and report hazards or near misses without delay.

Risk Assessment and Task Planning: Prior to work commencing, a written or recorded risk assessment will be carried out for each job. This will consider site access, utilities, ground conditions, proximity to public areas and any vulnerable persons nearby. For higher risk tasks such as working at height or using powered tools, method statements and permit-to-work checks will be used.

Training and Competence: Staff will receive induction training and ongoing competency development relevant to Hornsey landscaper services. Training covers manual handling, safe use of machinery, pesticide awareness, first aid basics and emergency response. Records of qualifications and toolbox talks are maintained and reviewed regularly to ensure continued competence.

Personal Protective Equipment and Safe Equipment Use: Appropriate PPE such as protective boots, gloves, eye and hearing protection will be supplied and must be worn where required. All tools and machinery are inspected before use; any defective equipment is taken out of service. Safe operating procedures for strimmers, chainsaws and petrol-powered equipment are enforced to minimise the likelihood of injury.

Incident Reporting and Investigation: All accidents, incidents and near misses are reported immediately to a supervisor and recorded in our incident log. Investigations seek to identify root causes and corrective actions to prevent recurrence. We adopt a no-blame approach to reporting to encourage openness and continuous learning in our garden maintenance Hornsey teams.

Hazard Controls and Environmental Protection: Controls include exclusion zones, signage, traffic management when working near roads, and safe storage of fuel and chemicals. Waste arising from works is managed responsibly: green waste is composted where possible and other waste disposed of according to local regulations to limit environmental impact from Hornsey garden services.

Subcontractors and Client Site Rules: Any subcontractors used by our Hornsey gardening company must comply with this health and safety policy and demonstrate equivalent standards. Clients will be advised of any site-specific rules and must ensure access and any site hazards are disclosed before work starts. Cooperation between client and contractor is essential for a safe outcome.

Chemical Use, Storage and PPE: When herbicides, fertilizers or pesticides are required as part of garden care Hornsey programs, only approved products are used and stored securely. Operators will follow COSHH principles, consult product safety data sheets and use dedicated PPE. The following controls are in place:

• Product risk assessment before use
• Weather checks to prevent drift or runoff
• Safe mixing and secure transport of chemicals

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement: This policy is subject to regular review to reflect changes in legislation, equipment or service types delivered by Hornsey garden maintenance teams. Management will conduct periodic audits and review incident trends. Records of inspections, training and audits are retained so improvements can be demonstrated and acted upon.

Emergency Procedures and First Aid: Emergency plans cover medical incidents, fire and severe weather. First aid kits are carried on site and personnel with first aid training are designated for each crew. Emergency contacts are listed in the site file; evacuation and assembly procedures are briefed at the start of any complex or higher-risk job.

Conclusion and Commitment: Gardening Services Hornsey and associated Hornsey gardening services staff are committed to delivering safe, high-quality garden work while protecting people and the environment. Our promise is to review practices, learn from experience and maintain compliance with applicable health and safety standards so that every project is completed without harm.