Health & Safety Policy — Gardeners Lee
Gardeners Lee is committed to protecting the health, safety and welfare of all employees, contractors and members of the public who may be affected by our gardening operations. This policy sets out a practical approach to safety for our team and covers our works across the company's service area. This policy is adopted across the Lee Gardeners operation and applies to all aspects of our gardening services and landscape maintenance activities, reinforcing the expectation that safety is integrated into planning and delivery.
We recognise our responsibilities to minimise risk through planning, competence and the provision of appropriate equipment. This statement demonstrates our intent to integrate safety into all operational decisions, from routine lawn care to complex tree work, and to promote a positive safety culture among staff and subcontractors. Our approach is proportionate to the scale of work and is regularly reviewed as operations evolve to reflect changes to methods and equipment.
Responsibilities are clearly defined: company leadership provides overall direction; supervisors ensure safe work plans are in place; and each worker is required to take reasonable care for their own safety and that of others. Key duties include carrying out task-specific risk assessments, following standard operating procedures and reporting hazards. The responsibilities are summarised below:
- Carry out and document risk assessments prior to work
- Follow safe operating procedures for machinery, hand tools and vehicles
- Report hazards and incidents promptly so corrective actions can be taken
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
GardenersLee teams use a structured approach to identify hazards and apply controls. Risk assessments are recorded and reviewed for new tasks or when conditions change. Controls are selected using a hierarchy that favours elimination and engineering measures before reliance on administrative controls or PPE, helping to reduce incidents and support continuous improvement across our gardening operations.
A safe system of work is prepared for higher-risk activities such as working adjacent to highways, hedge cutting at height, stump grinding and site clearance. These plans include exclusion zones, traffic management where necessary, and clear task sequences. All staff receive instruction on how to follow these systems, and they are empowered to stop work where they believe a risk is not properly controlled. Supervisors ensure that those supervising or carrying out the work understand the arrangements.
Equipment and vehicle safety are prioritised: powered tools, ride-on mowers and trailers are maintained to schedule, pre-operational checks are required, and defects are reported and rectified before reuse. Only authorised operators use specialist equipment and training records are kept to demonstrate competence for specified roles. Routine maintenance, daily checklists and secure storage reduce the chance of avoidable failures.
Training, Competence and Personal Protective Equipment
Our training programme ensures staff are competent for the tasks assigned. Induction training covers general site safety, safe tool use and emergency procedures, while task-specific training addresses chainsaw work, pesticide application and manual handling. The aim is to ensure each member of the gardening team understands both the risks and the controls and can work safely under supervision or independently as required.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is provided where risks cannot be fully removed. Typical items include gloves, protective eyewear, hearing protection, safety boots and high-visibility clothing. PPE is regularly inspected and replaced. Staff are instructed on correct PPE selection and use, and supervisors monitor compliance during routine work and site visits. The use of appropriate PPE is mandatory on operational sites and is considered part of the required control measures for many tasks.
Hazardous substances are managed responsibly: only approved products are used in labelled containers with access to safety data sheets. Manual handling procedures reduce strain through team lifts and mechanical aids. Working at height protocols and stable access equipment are used for elevated pruning or roofline work. Public safety is considered at all times: barriers and signage are used where works may affect passers-by and property owners are informed of relevant precautions. First aid provisions are maintained on sites and at the depot, trained first-aiders are available for routine operations, and emergency procedures are established for serious incidents. All accidents, near misses and dangerous occurrences are reported, investigated and recorded to prevent recurrence. This health and safety policy is monitored regularly and reviewed at least annually or after significant change to ensure it remains effective.
