Health and Safety Policy for Garden Maintenance Kensington

Garden Maintenance Kensington is committed to protecting the health, safety and welfare of all employees, contractors and members of the public affected by our gardening operations. This policy outlines safe working standards for our Kensington garden maintenance and gardening services, covering routine grounds care, planting, pruning, turf management and seasonal site clearance. The policy applies to all staff and operatives engaged in garden care in Kensington and nearby service areas, ensuring that safe systems of work are consistently implemented.

We will ensure adequate resources are provided to control hazards relating to landscaping and garden maintenance in Kensington properties. Our commitment covers risk identification, provision of suitable equipment and personal protective equipment, safe handling of materials, control of hazardous substances and effective training. Prevention of accidents, ill health and environmental harm is central to how we operate, and we expect everyone working for the company to share this commitment.

Responsibilities are clearly defined throughout the organisation. Management will: establish and maintain safe procedures, allocate responsibility for site risk assessments and ensure compliance with this policy. Supervisors will: implement control measures, monitor staff competence and confirm that plant and tools are maintained. Operatives will follow instructions, use PPE and report unsafe conditions promptly.

Risk assessment and method statements form the backbone of our approach to Kensington garden upkeep. Before work begins on any site we carry out dynamic and documented risk assessments that consider ground conditions, overhead hazards, public access, buried services and adjacent property. For higher-risk activities we prepare written method statements that detail task steps, control measures and emergency arrangements. This ensures both routine and specialist garden maintenance tasks are planned and executed safely.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is provided and must be worn as appropriate for the task. Typical PPE for garden maintenance in Kensington includes: high-visibility clothing, safety boots, gloves, eye protection, hearing protection and respiratory protection where dust or spray exposure is identified. PPE is issued, maintained and replaced as necessary; staff are trained in correct use and limitations.

We operate a safe plant and machinery policy for all equipment used in Kensington garden maintenance. Only trained and authorised personnel operate machinery such as hedge cutters, ride-on mowers, shredders and chainsaws. Equipment is subject to regular pre-use checks and planned maintenance. Safe isolation and lock-off procedures are used where required, and combustible or flammable materials are stored safely to reduce fire risk.

Manual handling, working at height and use of chemicals are frequent hazards in garden maintenance. Tasks are assessed to eliminate unnecessary lifting, use mechanical aids where possible and limit manual handling weights. For works at height we use suitable access equipment and follow strict procedures for ladder use and short-duration elevated tasks. Where pesticides, fertilisers or cleaning chemicals are present we follow COSHH-style control measures, using approved products, correct dilution, safe storage and disposal.

Emergency procedures and incident reporting are maintained for all sites. All staff are briefed on site-specific emergency routes, assembly points and first aid arrangements. Accidents, near misses and unsafe conditions are reported immediately so we can investigate and implement corrective measures. Regular inspections and supervisory checks ensure learning from incidents and continuous improvement in safety performance.

Training, competence and communication are essential to our safety culture. New employees receive induction training covering safe working practices for garden maintenance services in Kensington. Ongoing training includes equipment operation, manual handling, use of PPE and refresher sessions tailored to seasonal activity. We promote clear communication via toolbox talks, site briefings and written instructions so that everyone understands their role in delivering safe, reliable gardening services.