Health & Safety Policy — Gardening Hoxton

Gardening Hoxton is committed to providing a safe working environment for employees, clients and the public while delivering high-quality garden services in Hoxton and surrounding service areas. This Health and Safety policy sets out our approach to risk management, safe systems of work and continuous improvement in all landscaping and maintenance activities. It applies to all staff, contractors and subcontractors engaged in garden maintenance, planting, boundary works and small-scale landscape projects.

Our objective is to prevent accidents and occupational ill health by identifying hazards, implementing proportionate controls and promoting a positive safety culture. All operational decisions will balance service quality with safety and environmental protection. The policy supports legal compliance, good practice and the adoption of safe working methods that are appropriate to a small to medium gardening provider operating across a local service area.

Staff, supervisors and managers share responsibility for health and safety. Employees must follow safe systems of work, attend required training, use issued personal protective equipment (PPE) and report hazards or near-misses. Managers are responsible for risk assessments, ensuring equipment is maintained and for arranging first-aid provisions on site. The company will ensure that anyone representing the business is competent, adequately supervised and briefed on site-specific safety measures.

Risk assessment and control measures

We carry out documented risk assessments for recurring tasks and project-specific activities. These assessments identify hazards such as manual handling, slips/trips, hand and power tool use, small plant machinery, chemical use (fertilisers, herbicides), working near boundaries and public footpaths, and working at height from ladders. Controls are implemented using the hierarchy of controls: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls and PPE. Where appropriate we will use tool guards, barrier tape and safe segregation to protect the public.

Typical control measures include:

• Pre-start equipment checks and routine maintenance of mowers, strimmers, chainsaws and trailers.
• Use of appropriate PPE such as gloves, eye protection, hearing protection, hi-vis clothing and sturdy footwear.
• Safe systems for manual handling, team lifts and mechanical aids where feasible.
• Clear exclusion zones when operating machinery to protect staff and bystanders.

Chemical and spray works will be carried out by trained staff using COSHH-based controls, correct dilution, secure storage and appropriate signage. Waste management protocols require safe removal of green waste, contaminated soil and any hazardous residues to authorised facilities. We will never store hazardous quantities on projects and will seek alternatives to hazardous substances where possible.

Training, competence and equipment safety

All gardeners and operatives receive induction training covering site safety, vehicle loading and unloading, and emergency procedures. Further task-specific training (e.g., chainsaw use, pesticide application, arboriculture operations) will be provided and recorded. Training records and certificates are retained to demonstrate ongoing competence for the variety of Hoxton gardening and landscape services we provide.

Safe use of vehicles and plant is essential. Drivers must ensure loads are secure, vehicles are roadworthy and that manual handling risks during loading are managed. Small plant and handheld tools will be serviced to manufacturers' recommendations and daily checklists completed. Faulty equipment is tagged out of service until repaired or replaced.

Incident reporting and emergency procedures are integral to our safety management. All injuries, near-misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported immediately so that corrective actions can be taken. First aid provisions, emergency contact escalation and clear site instructions will be provided on every project. In the event of a serious incident, we will cooperate with emergency services and regulatory bodies as required.

Monitoring, review and continual improvement: The policy will be reviewed at least annually and after any significant incident, change in operations or introduction of new equipment or substances. Regular site audits, toolbox talks and supervisor checks will monitor compliance with safe systems and the effectiveness of control measures. Lessons learned are fed back into training and operational procedures to reduce recurrence.

Contractor and client coordination: When working alongside other trades or on client-managed sites, we will agree clear roles and responsibilities, communicate hazards and follow site-specific rules. Our approach to safety for local gardening contracts emphasises cooperation, clear documentation and minimal disruption to residents and the public while maintaining rigorous safety standards.

Commitment: The leadership team endorses this policy and will allocate necessary resources to implement it effectively. Every employee and contractor is expected to work safely, challenge unsafe acts and contribute to a positive safety culture. Gardening Hoxton aims to deliver reliable garden care and landscaping services while maintaining the highest practical standards of health and safety across its service area.

Signed on behalf of the company — Policy owner: Operations Manager. This policy is available to all staff and stakeholders and will be communicated at induction and during routine briefings.