Health and Safety Policy — Gardening Seven Kings

Gardening Seven Kings is committed to providing a safe, healthy and productive working environment for all employees, contractors and the clients we serve. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risk across our gardening services, including garden maintenance, landscape installation and seasonal grounds care in Seven Kings and surrounding areas. Our aim is to prevent injury and ill health by embedding safety into every task and every decision.

The policy applies to everyone who works for or with our gardening business, from full-time gardeners and subcontractors to temporary staff and visitors. It covers on-site operations, transport between jobs, storage and handling of tools and materials, use of powered equipment, and manual handling. Safety is a core value of our garden maintenance teams and is reflected in operational planning and daily briefings. We encourage a culture where people feel empowered to raise concerns and suggest improvements.

Scope and responsibilities are clearly defined: management is responsible for implementing this policy and ensuring resources are available; supervisors and team leaders must communicate safe working methods; employees must follow instructions, wear PPE and report hazards. Everyone has a part to play in maintaining a safe workplace. This policy is reviewed regularly to reflect changing work practices and to incorporate lessons learned from incidents and near misses.

Risk assessment is central to how Seven Kings gardening services operate. Before starting any work our teams carry out a dynamic risk assessment to identify hazards such as unstable ground, buried services, hazardous plants, weather-related risks or traffic on site. Controls are selected to reduce risk to as low as reasonably practicable. These may include changing methods of work, using suitable tools, isolating dangerous equipment, or scheduling tasks to avoid high-risk conditions.

Training and competence are essential to safe gardening. All staff receive induction training and job-specific instruction for equipment such as chainsaws, hedge trimmers and rotary mowers. We maintain training records and ensure workers hold relevant certificates where required. Periodic refresher training, toolbox talks and on-the-job supervision support continuous improvement. Competent supervision ensures safe systems of work are followed and that best practice is shared across the team.

We maintain equipment to a high standard: powered tools are inspected before use, serviced at set intervals and removed from service if found defective. Fuel, pesticides and fertilisers are stored securely and labeled clearly. Personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, eye protection, hearing protection and protective footwear is provided and must be worn where risks warrant. Employees are instructed on proper PPE use and care to ensure effectiveness.

Emergency procedures are in place for incidents including injuries, fire, chemical spills and severe weather. First aid provision is maintained and suitably trained first aiders are available during working hours. Accident reporting and investigation help identify root causes and prevent recurrence. We operate a no-blame culture for reporting near misses so improvements can be made proactively.

Responsibilities and Safe Working Practices

The following points summarise key duties for safe working in our Seven Kings garden care operations:

• Management: provide leadership, resources and policy oversight.
• Supervisors: plan work, carry out risk assessments and monitor compliance.
• Employees: follow safe systems, report hazards and maintain equipment.
• Contractors: follow agreed safety arrangements and cooperate with site rules.

These responsibilities are communicated to all staff and reflected in performance reviews and site checks. Regular audits and inspections help ensure that standards are maintained and that improvements are implemented promptly.

Our approach to health includes awareness of manual handling, sun exposure, noise and other occupational risks associated with gardening. Where possible we rotate tasks to reduce repetitive strain and encourage hydration, breaks and appropriate clothing. Mental health is recognised as part of workplace wellbeing; managers are trained to support team members and signpost to further assistance when needed.

Incident Management and Continuous Improvement

All incidents and near misses are recorded, investigated and used as opportunities for learning. We set measurable safety objectives, review performance regularly and adapt procedures to achieve better outcomes. Audits, site observations and employee input drive a continual cycle of improvement for our gardening services.

In summary, Gardening Seven Kings commits to maintaining a robust Health and Safety Policy that protects people, property and the environment. We will: allocate sufficient resources, ensure competence through training, maintain equipment, and promote a proactive safety culture. By embedding these principles into every aspect of our Seven Kings gardening and landscaping work, we aim to deliver excellent service without compromising safety or wellbeing.