Health and Safety Policy for Gardeners Mill Hill

This Health and Safety Policy sets out the commitment of Gardeners Mill Hill and associated Mill Hill gardening teams to protect the health, safety and welfare of employees, subcontractors, clients and the public while carrying out gardening, grounds maintenance and landscaping services. The purpose of this policy is to establish clear expectations, practical controls and responsibilities to ensure a safe working environment across our service area. We promote a culture of care, competence and continual improvement.

Our policy applies to all Mill Hill gardeners, horticultural operatives and seasonal staff engaged in routine garden maintenance, soft landscaping, hedge cutting, tree pruning support and other related outdoor tasks. Key aims include the prevention of workplace incidents, the reduction of occupational ill health, and the provision of suitable information, instruction and training. Safety is integral to every job we accept.

Responsibilities are clearly allocated: senior management must ensure adequate resources and leadership; team leaders and supervisors implement safe systems of work; and every operative is expected to cooperate, use equipment correctly and report hazards. The following list highlights primary duties:

• Management: maintain and review safety arrangements, ensure risk assessments and method statements are current.
• Supervisors: monitor compliance, provide briefings and ensure suitable PPE is used.
• Operatives: follow instructions, attend training and report near misses or hazards promptly.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

All work undertaken by the Mill Hill gardening service requires a pre-task risk assessment to identify hazards such as manual handling, working at height, use of powered tools, exposure to pesticides and interaction with public spaces. Control measures are implemented following the hierarchy of control: elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative controls and personal protective equipment. Risk assessments are recorded, communicated and reviewed whenever site conditions change.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is provided where controls cannot eliminate hazards. Typical PPE includes gloves, eye protection, hearing protection, high-visibility clothing and protective footwear. Use of chainsaw chaps, face shields and fall-arrest harnesses is mandatory where applicable. Employees must ensure PPE is maintained and report defects immediately.

Plant and equipment safety is emphasised: powered mowers, hedge trimmers, blowers and chainsaws are inspected daily, maintained in accordance with manufacturer guidance and used only by trained personnel. Fuel is stored and handled safely, batteries are charged in well-ventilated areas, and portable tools are subject to regular portable appliance testing or visual inspections as required.

Training, Supervision and Competence

Training is vital for a competent gardening workforce. All Mill Hill gardeners receive induction training, job-specific instruction and refresher sessions covering manual handling, safe use of machinery, hazardous substances awareness and emergency procedures. Records of training and qualifications are maintained to demonstrate competence for specific tasks such as pesticide application or tree work.

Supervision levels are adjusted according to the task complexity and the experience of staff. Apprentices and new operatives work under close supervision until deemed competent. Contractors engaged to support our gardening services are required to demonstrate equivalent standards of safety management and must follow our site rules while working on projects we manage.

Emergency preparedness includes clear procedures for first aid, incident reporting and dealing with major hazards. First aid kits, accident books and access to trained first-aiders are maintained on-site. All incidents and near misses are reported, investigated and used as learning opportunities to prevent recurrence. Proactive reporting improves safety for everyone.

Specific attention is given to hazardous substances: fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides are stored securely, COSHH-style assessments are completed and safe application methods are used. Where feasible, the company promotes less hazardous alternatives and integrated pest management techniques to minimise environmental and health impacts.

Manual handling risk is reduced by providing mechanical aids, team lifts and safe work techniques. Tasks are re-organised where possible to avoid repetitive strain and overexertion. Operators are encouraged to take regular breaks, hydrate adequately and report any developing musculoskeletal discomfort for early action.

Traffic management and site segregation are applied when working near roads, paths or on multi-user sites. High-visibility clothing is worn, exclusion zones are established around machinery, and banksmen are used during plant movement. Public safety is paramount when Mill Hill gardening crews are operating in communal or high-footfall areas.

Monitoring, review and continual improvement are core to our approach. Safety performance is measured by regular site inspections, toolbox talks, audits and management reviews. Actions arising from inspections are tracked to completion. We aim for measurable reductions in incidents and sustained improvements in working practices.

This policy is communicated to all staff and is available to contractors and stakeholders. It is reviewed at least annually or sooner if there are significant changes to work activities, equipment or following an incident. The intention is to ensure that Mill Hill gardening operations remain safe, sustainable and professional at every stage.

All personnel are required to co-operate with this policy, raise concerns responsibly and participate in safety activities. By embedding these principles, Gardeners Mill Hill and affiliated gardening teams will deliver high-quality landscaping and maintenance services without compromising the wellbeing of people or the environment.