Garden Maintenance Brompton: Health and Safety Policy

Garden Maintenance Brompton operates with a commitment to creating safe, healthy outdoor working environments for staff, clients and the public. This policy explains how our Brompton garden maintenance teams manage hazards, control risks and promote safe working practices across domestic and commercial sites. It is designed to be practical, proportionate and easy to apply by crews carrying out routine gardening, landscape upkeep and seasonal work.

Our aim is to reduce incidents through clear responsibilities, planned procedures and ongoing training. The policy covers risk assessment, the use of personal protective equipment, safe operation of horticultural machinery, traffic and pedestrian management, manual handling and safe use of chemicals. We emphasise a proactive approach: identifying hazards before work begins, applying sensible controls and monitoring outcomes to ensure continuous improvement.

Scope: This policy applies to all staff, contractors and temporary workers engaged in Brompton gardening services and related tasks on client properties and public spaces. It also guides supervisors who plan daily work, site managers who coordinate multiple crews and office personnel who support safe scheduling. Everyone is expected to follow the standards set out here and to report hazards or near-misses without delay.

Risk Assessment and Site Safety

Before work starts, supervisors must complete a site-specific risk assessment to identify hazards such as uneven ground, hidden services, overhead obstacles, road frontage and the presence of children or pets. Controls are selected based on the level of risk and could include cordoning areas, using signage, or scheduling noisy or dusty works at times that minimize public exposure. Regular reassessment is required when site conditions change.

Key hazards addressed by our assessments include machinery entanglement, contact with powered equipment, slips/trips/falls, manual handling injuries, plant and pesticide exposure and vehicle movements. Where chemical use is necessary we follow safe storage and handling procedures, provide appropriate PPE and ensure Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) information is accessible on site. Our crews are instructed to avoid unnecessary use of hazardous substances and to use non-chemical alternatives where effective.

We maintain a clear hierarchy of controls: eliminate hazards where possible, replace risky methods, engineer out exposures, adopt administrative controls and provide PPE as a last line of defence. Examples include using extension tools to reduce climbing, employing mechanical lifting aids for heavy materials and scheduling team lifts for large shrubs or soil bags.

Training, Equipment and Incident Management

All operatives receive induction training covering safe use of hand tools and powered equipment, hazard recognition and emergency procedures. Supervisors undertake additional training in site risk assessment, safe machinery operation and incident reporting. We carry out regular toolbox talks to reinforce safety messages and to adapt guidance to seasonal risks such as wet conditions or increased pollen exposure.

Our fleet and tools are inspected and maintained to a documented schedule. Only authorised and competent staff may operate ride-on mowers, chainsaws, stump grinders or other high-risk equipment. PPE is provided and includes gloves, eye and hearing protection, high-visibility clothing, steel-toe boots and appropriate respiratory protection where required. Employees are responsible for the care and correct use of issued PPE.

Emergency and incident management procedures are in place across Garden Care Brompton operations. These include first aid arrangements, reporting and investigation of accidents, and corrective action tracking. We use an open reporting culture so near-misses and hazards are logged and addressed promptly. In the event of a serious incident, supervisors must preserve the scene, secure help and follow the organisation's incident escalation process.

Roles and Responsibilities

The following summarises key responsibilities to deliver safe garden maintenance services in Brompton and surrounding areas:

• Management: provide leadership, resources and oversight for health and safety programs.
• Supervisors: conduct pre-work assessments, enforce controls and support crews on site.
• Operatives: follow instructions, use PPE and report hazards or incidents immediately.

Monitoring and review are essential parts of our policy. We perform routine site inspections, review incident records and evaluate performance indicators such as accident frequency, near-miss trends and completion of scheduled maintenance tasks. This helps ensure the policy remains effective and responsive to changes in equipment, methods or types of work carried out by our Brompton gardening teams.

Continuous improvement is encouraged through refresher training, procurement of safer tools and engagement with staff to identify practical safety enhancements. We also audit compliance and apply corrective actions where required to protect people and property while delivering high-quality landscape services.

Conclusion: By following this Health and Safety Policy, Garden Maintenance Brompton commits to a consistent, visible and responsible approach to safety. Our aim is to prevent harm, support wellbeing and maintain professional standards across all aspects of garden maintenance, landscaping and grounds care. Staff are expected to be familiar with this document and to act in accordance with its principles every day.