Health and Safety Policy — Gardening Services Regents Park

Purpose: This Health and Safety policy sets out the commitments and working standards for gardening services in Regents Park and surrounding service areas. It applies to all staff, contractors and sub‑contractors engaged in garden maintenance, landscaping, tree work and grounds upkeep. Our aim is to deliver excellent horticultural services while ensuring the safety of employees, clients and members of the public.

Policy Statement and Scope

We recognise a clear duty of care to protect health and safety during the delivery of Regents Park gardening services. The company will provide the necessary resources, training and supervision to minimise risk. This policy covers routine maintenance tasks, seasonal projects, machinery operation and chemical handling, and extends to work on private and communal green spaces where the organisation operates.

Responsibilities

Operatives wearing PPE while operating machinery Responsibility is shared across the organisation. Key roles and duties include:

Management: ensure appropriate risk assessments, safe systems of work and adequate supervision.
Supervisors: brief teams, monitor compliance and maintain equipment.
Operatives: follow safe procedures, wear specified PPE and report hazards.
All staff: take reasonable care for themselves and others.

To support these responsibilities we maintain a documented safety file for on-site use, which includes method statements for higher-risk activities such as tree pruning, hedge cutting, turfing and the use of pedestrian and ride-on machinery. Managers will ensure files are accessible and up to date.

Our approach is preventative. We proactively identify hazards and implement controls before work begins, with the expectation that every operative contributes to a safe working environment.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems

Before work starts we conduct written risk assessments tailored to the task and location. Assessments consider environmental risks, public access, underground services, site traffic and weather. Control measures include physical barriers, signage, exclusion zones and the appointment of a traffic marshal where required.

Personal Protective Equipment is provided and mandatory where assessments indicate: hi‑vis clothing, gloves, hearing protection, eye protection, steel‑toe boots and head protection where appropriate. PPE standards are enforced and replaced as needed.

Equipment and Machinery Safety

All machinery and tools are kept in safe condition and inspected before use. Operators must be trained and competent with petrol and electric cutters, chainsaws, shredders and ride‑on mowers. Lock‑off/tag‑out procedures are used for maintenance, and fuel handling is managed with spill prevention measures.

Portable appliance testing and documented service records are maintained for electric tools. Battery charging is carried out in designated, ventilated areas with appropriate fire control measures.

Working at height is planned and kept to a minimum. Where required, ladders and access equipment are used by trained personnel with appropriate fall prevention and rescue plans in place.

Use of Chemicals and Controlled Substances

The company uses herbicides and plant protection products only when necessary and in accordance with manufacturer guidance and good horticultural practice. COSHH-style controls are applied: risk assessments, secure storage, PPE, spill kits and clear labelling. Records of applications are retained for review.

Waste and recycling are handled responsibly. Green waste is segregated, composted or transported to licensed facilities. Contaminated materials are managed to prevent environmental harm.

First aid kit and emergency response station on site Emergency procedures include first aid provision on site, prompt reporting of injuries and near misses, and an incident response plan that covers evacuation, medical treatment and containment of environmental releases. All operatives receive basic first aid awareness and know how to summon additional assistance.

Supervised landscaping work in a public park setting Training, Monitoring and Continuous Improvement: We invest in ongoing training, toolbox talks and competency checks. Health surveillance is provided where tasks demand. Audits and site inspections are carried out regularly to verify compliance and to develop corrective actions where gaps are identified.

Record keeping is an integral part of our system: training logs, equipment maintenance records, risk assessments, method statements and incident reports are retained and reviewed to support continuous improvement.

Policy Review: This Health and Safety policy is reviewed annually and amended as needed following significant changes in operations, new risks, or after any serious incident. The review process engages operational staff and management to ensure it remains practical and effective across all landscaping and gardening services offered in Regents Park and adjacent service areas.

This policy represents the minimum standard for safe work. All employees and contractors are expected to comply fully; failure to follow safety rules may result in disciplinary action. By working together and maintaining high standards, the team ensures safe, reliable and professional delivery of garden care and maintenance throughout the Regents Park service area.

Signed: Operations Director — Date: (kept on file). This document is published for staff awareness and applied consistently across every project to protect people and the environment.

The policy complements site-specific instructions and customer requirements while remaining focused on practical measures that reduce risk and enhance the quality of horticultural work.