Health and Safety Policy — Gardening Belmont
Gardening Belmont is committed to providing a safe, healthy and professional environment for staff, clients and visitors across our service area. This Health and Safety Policy describes our approach to managing risks associated with garden maintenance, landscaping and grounds care. Whether operating as Belmont garden services, Gardening in Belmont or providing wider Belmont gardening support, we apply consistent standards to prevent injury, protect health and maintain high-quality service delivery.
Our aim is to integrate health, safety and environmental best practices into every job. The policy covers routine maintenance, turf care, hedge trimming, tree work, planting, and use of powered equipment. All employees and contractors are expected to follow the policy and contribute to a culture where hazards are reported and addressed promptly. Management will ensure adequate resources, training and supervision to meet these commitments.
Key Principles and Responsibilities
Principles: We prevent harm by identifying hazards, assessing risk and applying control measures. We foster clear communication, continuous improvement and accountability. Responsibilities are shared: managers set standards and ensure compliance, while operatives must work safely and report concerns. The policy applies across Belmont garden services and all Gardening Belmont operations.Risk assessment is at the core of safe gardening operations. Before starting any job, teams perform a site assessment to identify trip hazards, underground services, wildlife, restricted access and weather-related risks. Control measures include safe work methods, use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), traffic management and exclusion zones for powered tools. Where specialist tasks such as tree felling or structural landscaping are required, we engage competent personnel and external specialists as necessary to manage residual risks.
Training, Competence and PPE
Employees receive induction training, job-specific instruction and refresher sessions. Certification or documented evidence of competence is required for tasks involving chainsaws, pesticide application or heavy machinery. PPE standards include gloves, eye and ear protection, high-visibility clothing and suitable footwear. We emphasise correct use, maintenance and replacement of PPE to ensure ongoing protection during garden maintenance and landscaping work.Equipment safety is maintained through regular inspections, pre-use checks and prompt servicing. Powered tools and machinery are used only by trained staff and according to manufacturer instructions. Safe systems of work are documented and followed for tasks like hedge cutting, stump grinding and soil movement. Storage and transport of tools are managed to avoid accidental damage and to reduce risk to the public and team members while working across the Belmont area.
Hazardous substances, including fuels, lubricants and approved plant protection products, are stored and used following product guidance and risk controls. Wherever possible we choose low-toxicity solutions and non-chemical methods. Staff handling chemicals receive instruction on safe mixing, application and spill response. Waste materials such as branches, green waste and packaging are disposed of responsibly to minimise environmental impact and site hazards.
Incident reporting and emergency response procedures are clearly documented. All incidents, near-misses and injuries are reported immediately, investigated proportionately and used to prevent recurrence. First aid provisions are available on site and at our operational bases; trained first aiders are accessible during working hours. In emergencies, teams follow established response plans and liaise with emergency services if required.
Monitoring, review and continuous improvement form part of our safety management system. We conduct regular safety audits, toolbox talks and performance reviews to ensure Belmont gardening operations remain compliant with standards and adapt to emerging risks. Feedback from staff contributes to policy updates and operational improvements. The company leadership reviews this policy periodically and when significant changes to work practices, equipment or service area scope occur.
To support implementation we maintain clear documentation, visible site signage and risk control checklists. Communication channels ensure supervisors can escalate issues and that teams receive timely updates about weather warnings, plant disease outbreaks or other operational changes. Our approach is pragmatic and focused on protecting people, property and the environment while delivering reliable garden maintenance and landscaping across the service area.