Gardening Westminster Health and Safety Policy
Gardening Westminster is committed to maintaining a safe working environment for staff, clients and the public while delivering professional garden and grounds maintenance services. This policy applies to all on-site activities associated with our landscaping, garden maintenance and planting work across our service area. The aim is to prevent injury, ill health and loss by embedding risk-aware planning, safe systems of work and continuous training into everyday operations. Staff are encouraged to speak up about hazards and to contribute to safety improvements.
Our approach to Westminster gardening and nearby neighbourhood projects emphasises hazard identification and proactive controls. Supervisors will conduct pre-work assessments including checks for underground services, unstable trees, pesticide storage and machinery condition. We maintain records of risk assessments and method statements for higher-risk tasks such as tree surgery, confined-space works and use of heavy powered equipment. Emergency procedures and first-aid provision are documented and periodically reviewed to ensure readiness.
All employees and contractors must follow safe work procedures and wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). This includes high-visibility clothing, cut-resistant gloves, eye protection, hearing protection and safety footwear where required. New starters receive induction training on company safety standards, and routine refresher training is provided. Supervisors will ensure competence before assigning complex jobs and will withdraw staff from tasks they cannot perform safely.
Responsibilities and Safe Working
Company leadership retains overall responsibility for occupational health and safety, including provision of resources, monitoring and continual improvement. Site managers are responsible for daily risk control, toolbox talks and ensuring that safety documentation is present at each job. Individual employees have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and to co-operate with policies by reporting defects, hazards and incidents promptly. Contractors must demonstrate equivalent safety standards before commencing work.
Risk control measures for gardening services in Westminster include eliminating or reducing exposure to hazards, using appropriate tools and machinery, and implementing exclusion zones where necessary. Chemical handling follows COSHH principles: substances are only used when necessary, stored securely and accompanied by safety data sheets. Manual handling tasks are assessed and mechanical aids are used to reduce strain. The company promotes a culture of near-miss reporting to prevent more serious incidents.
To support safe operations we maintain and inspect equipment regularly. Mowers, strimmers, chainsaws and powered tools undergo routine maintenance schedules and pre-use checks. Electrical equipment is subject to periodic tests and cordless battery systems are managed to avoid thermal and electrical hazards. Safe fuel handling and storage procedures reduce fire and contamination risks. Waste materials and green waste are managed to avoid slips, trips and vermin issues.
Training, Monitoring and Emergency Preparedness
Training is central to the policy. Staff receive practical instruction on manual handling, ladder safety, tree work awareness and tool use. Appointments for work requiring specific qualifications (for example, certified arborists) are made to ensure compliance with best practice. Regular audits and site inspections evaluate adherence to the safety management system, and corrective actions are tracked until completion.
An operational checklist helps teams to prepare for each job. Key items include:
- Verification of client and site-specific hazards
- Availability of correct PPE and tools
- Presence of first-aid kit and emergency contact procedures
- Controls for traffic and public access near work zones
- Documentation for plant risk assessments and safe systems of work
Incident and near-miss reporting is mandatory. Any accident, however minor, is recorded and investigated to identify causes and prevent recurrence. We keep records to support learning and to demonstrate compliance with our safety objectives. Periodic management reviews evaluate performance and set targets such as reduced incident rates and improved training completion.
Policy review and continuous improvement: This policy is reviewed regularly and updated in response to legislative change, incident findings and operational feedback. We strive to exceed minimum standards by fostering a cooperative safety culture, encouraging staff involvement and applying lessons learned across all landscaping and horticultural work. By maintaining robust controls and open communication, our aim is to provide reliable, safe and professional gardening solutions across the local service area while protecting people and the environment.