Health and Safety Policy — Gardeners Shortlands
This Health and Safety Policy sets out the commitment of Gardeners Shortlands to provide safe horticultural and garden maintenance services across our service area. The policy applies to all staff, contractors and any visitors to sites where our gardening company Shortlands team operates. Our aim is to protect everyone affected by our work through clear responsibilities, sensible risk control and continuous improvement.
The policy is written to be practical and proportionate for a small-to-medium sized gardening company and covers routine grounds maintenance, landscaping projects and seasonal work. It complements site-specific risk assessments and the existing safe working systems used by Shortlands gardeners. Key principles are prevention of harm, compliance with good practice, and provision of training and equipment to enable safe working.
Scope: this document covers garden maintenance Shortlands activities including tree and shrub pruning, hedge cutting, lawn care, use of handheld and powered tools, chemical use for pest control (where authorised), waste handling and manual handling of materials. It does not replace any site-specific rules imposed by a client but provides the baseline standards our horticultural services in Shortlands follow.
The responsibilities are allocated as follows: managers are responsible for policy implementation, risk assessment coordination and oversight; supervisors and team leaders must ensure safe systems of work are followed on site; and every operative has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others. All staff will be familiarised with this policy on induction and through regular briefings.
Risk assessment: before starting any task a suitable and sufficient risk assessment will be completed and recorded. Controls will be selected to remove hazards where practicable, or otherwise to reduce risks to an acceptable level. Typical controls include using the right tool for the job, establishing exclusion zones around operating machinery, using mechanical aids for heavy lifts and scheduling work to avoid extreme heat or frost where relevant.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is provided based on risk assessments and includes eye protection, hearing protection, gloves, high-visibility clothing and safety footwear. Use of PPE is mandatory where risks cannot be sufficiently controlled by other means. The company will maintain PPE stock and ensure shortlands gardening teams are trained in correct selection and use.
Safe equipment: all powered equipment and hand tools will be inspected and maintained according to manufacturer guidance. Operators must be trained and authorised before using powered saws, shredders, mowers and similar plant. Fuel and chemical storage will be controlled; only trained staff will handle pesticides and concentrates, following product instructions and safety data sheets.
Operational controls include work planning to avoid lone working where risk is higher, clear communication of site rules, and appointment of a competent person to supervise higher-risk tasks. Emergency procedures such as first aid arrangements, location of the nearest medical facility and incident reporting must be known to all staff on each assignment.
Training and competency: Gardeners Shortlands is committed to ensuring all personnel receive appropriate induction training and refresher courses where needed. Training covers safe use of tools and machinery, manual handling techniques, safe working at height for pruning tasks, and awareness of hazardous plants and wildlife. Records of training and competence will be maintained centrally.
Monitoring, Incident Reporting and Review
We will actively monitor compliance through site inspections, toolbox talks and performance checks. All accidents, near-misses and hazardous observations must be reported promptly so we can investigate and take corrective action. Lessons learned will be shared with the team and integrated into future risk assessments.
Practical controls and safe systems
- Carry out pre-start checks on machinery and electrical equipment.
- Establish clear exclusions and signage when operating cutters or mowers.
- Use mechanical assistance for heavy lifts and share manual handling tasks.
- Ensure safe access and stable platforms for work at height.
- Store fuels and hazardous substances securely and dispose of waste responsibly.
Compliance: adherence to this policy is a condition of employment for all staff and contractual engagement for contractors. Supervisors will monitor and managers will act to remedy non-compliance through training, changes to work systems or disciplinary measures when necessary. The emphasis will always be on prevention and continuous improvement rather than blame.
Health and wellbeing considerations are part of our approach: workers are encouraged to report fatigue, stress and any medical conditions that may affect safe work. Schedules will be planned to include appropriate rest breaks and seasonal workloads managed to reduce risk.
This policy is owned by the senior management of Gardeners Shortlands and will be reviewed at least annually or after any significant incident, change of work type or introduction of new equipment. The review will assess the effectiveness of controls and implement improvements where necessary. By following this policy our gardening services in Shortlands will maintain a safe and professional environment for staff and clients alike.
Signed: Management, Gardeners Shortlands. Date of issue and review schedule will be recorded in company records.
