Gardeners New Cross Health and Safety Policy

Gardeners New Cross is committed to maintaining the highest standards of health and safety for all staff, contractors and the wider community. This policy sets out the principles that guide our work across garden maintenance, landscaping and horticultural services. Our aim is to prevent injury and ill health, protect property and the environment, and ensure that every member of the team understands their role in keeping sites safe.

Our policy applies to everyone engaged by the company: full-time and part-time employees, agency workers, subcontractors and visitors. The scope covers routine garden care, planting schemes, tree works, hedge trimming, turfing, landscape construction and site clearance delivered by this gardening company. We emphasise practical measures and clear communication so that New Cross gardeners deliver services with safety at the forefront.

Responsibilities are allocated at every level. Senior management have overall accountability for ensuring resources, training and systems are in place. Supervisors are responsible for daily safety briefings, ensuring permits where required and verifying that machinery is inspected. Individual operatives must follow safe systems of work, use PPE correctly and report hazards immediately. Clients and site users are asked to cooperate where their actions could affect safety.

Risk assessment and safe systems

All tasks start with a documented risk assessment identifying hazards and controls. Assessments consider ground conditions, underground services, overhead cables, biological risks (allergens, thorns), and seasonal factors. Control measures include exclusion zones, tool isolation, machinery guards, and clear signage. We adopt a hierarchy of controls prioritising elimination, substitution, engineering and administrative measures before relying on personal protective equipment.

Equipment management is critical for a gardening company. Tools and powered machinery are inspected before use and maintained to manufacturer standards. Batteries and fuel are stored safely, and combination tasks involving machinery and manual handling have specific safeguards to prevent entanglement and musculoskeletal injuries. We maintain records of inspections and repairs to ensure traceability.

Training and competence are central to safe delivery by New Cross gardeners. Induction training covers company procedures, emergency response, and key hazards. Operatives receive task-specific instruction on chainsaws, brushcutters, shredders, and ride-on mowers, with documented proof of competence. Supervision is provided for inexperienced staff and trainees until they demonstrate safe independent working.

PPE, chemicals and fuel safety

Appropriate PPE is provided and must be worn as specified in risk assessments. Typical items include gloves, eye protection, hearing protection, high-visibility clothing, and protective footwear. Chemical use follows a precautionary approach: materials are selected to minimise risk, stored securely in labelled containers and used only by trained operatives in accordance with product guidance.

• Gloves suitable for cutting and handling rough plant material
• Type-specific eye protection for mowing and trimming
• Hearing protection for prolonged exposure to high noise
• Hard hats for overhead work and tree operations

Fuel and flammable materials are transported and stored with spill control measures. Refuelling is conducted away from ignition sources and in designated areas. Waste oils and residues are disposed of through authorised channels to reduce environmental impact.

Safe use of machinery and tools is emphasised: guards must be in place, cut-resistant materials used where required, and isolations performed before maintenance. New Cross gardening teams operate machinery with vigilance for bystanders, and exclusion zones are enforced during noisy or hazardous tasks. Electric tools use RCD protection where necessary to guard against electrical faults.

Working at height is managed by planning, using appropriate access equipment and ensuring that those undertaking such tasks are trained and competent. For tree work, the company uses competent arborists following recognised standards, employing mechanical methods to reduce manual risk where possible. Vehicle and traffic management plans are implemented on sites with significant public interaction.

Lone working procedures balance flexibility with safety: operatives register start and finish times, carry communication devices and follow check-in protocols. Welfare arrangements are provided for longer jobs and include access to potable water, sanitary facilities and rest breaks to manage heat or cold stress.

Incident management and reporting are essential. All accidents, near misses and unsafe conditions are recorded, investigated and used to inform corrective actions. First aid provisions are available on sites commensurate with risk. Emergency plans cover severe weather, serious injury and hazardous substance incidents, with clear escalation routes and periodic drills to ensure effectiveness.

Contractor control requires evidence of competence, insurance and adherence to the same safety standards expected of our own teams. Subcontractors are briefed on site-specific hazards, provided with relevant risk assessments and monitored to ensure compliance. Where external specialists are engaged, we coordinate methods to avoid conflicting activities that could create new hazards.

Review and continuous improvement: this policy is subject to regular review to reflect operational changes, new equipment or relevant industry developments. We capture learning from incidents and routine audits to implement improvements. By promoting a safety culture, encouraging reporting and providing ongoing training, Gardeners New Cross strives to protect people, property and the environment while delivering quality gardening and landscaping services.