Health and Safety Policy for Lawn Mowing Barking

Purpose: This policy sets out the approach taken by our gardening team to manage health and safety for lawn mowing Barking operations and related garden maintenance services. It applies to all staff, contractors and anyone working under the direction of the company when carrying out grass cutting in Barking, verge work, hedge trimming or general garden maintenance Barking. Our objective is to eliminate or control risks so that work is performed without harm to employees, clients, or the public.

Scope: The policy covers routine lawn care and grounds maintenance activities including routine mower use, powered trimmer and blower tasks, handling of fuel and lubricants, work on slopes and near boundaries, and the safe storage and transport of equipment. Key responsibilities are set out below in a clear and accessible way.

Responsibilities and Leadership

Management responsibilities include ensuring a safe system of work, providing training, maintaining equipment and supervising operations. Employees must follow safe working procedures, report hazards, wear required personal protective equipment and not operate equipment unless competent. Supervisors will carry out pre-shift briefings and ensure risk controls are implemented. Everyone has a duty to co-operate with safety arrangements and to stop work if there is an immediate danger.

Risk assessment and control: Before any Barking lawn mowing task commences a documented risk assessment will be carried out. Risk controls will follow the hierarchy: eliminate, substitute, engineer controls, administrative controls and personal protective equipment (PPE). Typical controls include clear exclusion zones for the public, use of guards and safety features on machinery, secure storage of flammable liquids and battery handling procedures for cordless tools.

Protective equipment and machinery

Employees will be provided with appropriate PPE including safety boots, eye protection, hearing protection, hi-vis clothing and gloves. All cutting equipment shall have functioning safety interlocks and guards. Powered equipment will be maintained in line with manufacturer guidance and pre-use checks recorded. Defective machines must not be used.

Training and competence: Staff undertaking grass cutting and wider garden services must be trained and assessed as competent. Training covers safe operation of rotary and cylinder mowers, strimmers/brushcutters, chainsaws (where used for boundary or stump work), fuel handling and spill response. Refresher training and toolbox talks will be scheduled to maintain skills and awareness.

Public safety and site setup: When providing garden maintenance Barking services in residential and public spaces, we ensure safe access routes are preserved and informal signage or barriers are put in place if required. Children, pets and passers-by are considered in every task plan. Where appropriate, pedestrian diversions and temporary cordons are used to prevent accidental entry into active worksites.

Environmental and waste controls: Fuel, oil and pesticide storage and use follow best practice to avoid contamination. Grass cuttings will be managed to prevent blocking drains or creating slip hazards. Wherever possible, green waste is composted or transported to authorised facilities. Spills are controlled by spill kits and documented cleanup procedures.

Incident reporting and emergency response: All incidents, near misses and injuries must be reported immediately. The company maintains first aid kits, trained first aiders and an emergency response plan that covers severe accidents and contact with hazardous materials. Where working near kerbs, traffic or public walkways, staff follow safe systems and use spotters when required.

Monitoring and performance: Regular inspections of sites and equipment are conducted to verify that controls are effective. Audit schedules and maintenance logs form part of our record-keeping. Performance indicators include the number of safety checks completed, training records up to date, and reduction in near misses or incidents over time.

Contractors and subcontractors: Anyone engaged to work alongside our teams must comply with this policy and demonstrate their competence and safe working systems. Contractors are required to provide evidence of suitable training, insurance and safe working procedures before starting work.

Review and continuous improvement: This policy will be reviewed annually or after a significant incident, change of equipment or change to work methods. We adopt a continuous improvement approach, encouraging staff suggestions and incorporating lessons learned from inspections and incident investigations. By maintaining professional standards in lawn mowing Barking and wider gardening services, we aim to deliver safe, reliable and high-quality work that protects people and the environment.

Record keeping: Records are retained for risk assessments, equipment maintenance, training and incident reports. These records support compliance monitoring and help demonstrate due diligence in health and safety management.

Communication: Safety information is communicated to staff through briefings, signage and written procedures. New starters receive induction covering this policy and site-specific risks. Regular meetings ensure changes to legislation, equipment or local conditions are cascaded to the workforce.

Commitment: The company is committed to providing a safe workplace for all its employees and the public when delivering lawn care and garden services across the service area. By integrating risk management into daily operations, we ensure safe lawn mowing Barking practices are embedded and upheld.