Health & Safety Policy — Gardening Kensington Services

Gardening Kensington is committed to providing safe, sustainable and high-quality garden care across our service area. This policy sets out our approach to protecting staff, clients, subcontractors and the public while delivering landscaping, lawn care and garden maintenance. The purpose of this document is to define responsibilities, controls and practical measures so that risks are reduced and operations are carried out safely.

Scope and Responsibilities

All employees, including temporary staff and contractors working on behalf of our kensington gardening operation, must comply with this policy. Managers are responsible for ensuring safe systems of work are in place, suitable training is delivered, and personal protective equipment (PPE) is provided and used. Staff are required to follow safe methods, report hazards and take reasonable care for their own safety and for others.

This policy applies to routine garden maintenance, seasonal planting, pruning, tree work carried out by trained arborists, turf and soil treatments, use of powered equipment and transport of tools and materials. It also covers interactions with members of the public, safe storage of materials on-site and environmental controls to prevent pollution or damage to habitats.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Risk assessments shall be completed for all tasks and reviewed regularly. Control measures will be implemented based on a hierarchy of controls: eliminate, substitute, engineer, administrative controls and PPE. Specific hazards addressed include manual handling, slips, trips and falls, contact with sharp tools, powered machinery, noise, vibration and exposure to chemicals.

• Site assessment: identify access, underground services, public interfaces and environmental sensitivities.
• Equipment checks: daily inspections and maintenance records for mowers, chainsaws, strimmers and trailers.
• Traffic management: safe vehicle movements and parking to protect pedestrians and workers.

Training, Competence and Supervision

We ensure that staff working for our gardening company in Kensington receive task-specific training, licensing where required (e.g., chainsaw & pesticide applications), and regular refresher instruction. Supervisors assess competence and allocate tasks according to skill level. New hires are inducted into our health and safety culture and mentored until assessed as competent.

Personal protective equipment is provided where risk assessments indicate it is necessary. Typical PPE includes high-visibility clothing, protective footwear, eye and hearing protection, cut-resistant gloves and respiratory protection for dust or spray tasks. Employees are responsible for maintaining PPE and reporting any defects immediately.

Safe handling and storage of chemicals and materials form a core part of our operations. Where pesticides, fertilizers or other hazardous substances are used, we maintain up-to-date COSHH-style information, use the least hazardous product reasonably practicable, and follow label instructions for application rates, dilution and disposal. Spill kits and containment procedures are available on relevant jobs.

Emergency preparedness includes clear procedures for first aid, incident reporting and response to major accidents. First aid kits are maintained in vehicles and at depots, and at least one trained first aider will be available on larger projects. In the event of a serious incident, emergency services will be contacted and the scene secured until they arrive. An internal investigation follows to prevent recurrence.

Accident Reporting and Record Keeping

All incidents, near misses and hazardous observations must be reported promptly. Records of training, equipment maintenance, risk assessments and incident investigations are kept and reviewed. This documentation supports continual improvement of our safety systems and demonstrates compliance with industry best practice.

Health, Wellbeing and Manual Handling

We promote health and wellbeing by encouraging safe manual handling techniques, frequent breaks during physically demanding tasks, and monitoring for signs of fatigue or heat stress during hot weather. Staff are advised on appropriate hydration, rest cycles and ergonomic working methods to reduce musculoskeletal injury.

Commitment and Review
Gardening Kensington and all associated operating teams commit to the continual review and improvement of this policy. We will audit our processes, consult with staff and update procedures when technology, legislation, or operational experience indicate changes are needed. Our objective is clear: to deliver excellent garden services throughout our service area without compromising safety or the environment.

By embedding these principles into day-to-day activities, our Kensington garden services and wider gardening operations deliver reliable, safe work for clients and communities while protecting our workforce and the environment.