Health and Safety

The Garden People takes the health and safety of employees and the public seriously.

A responsible person will be appointed to each job who will supervise all works and be responsible for quality and safety. Apprentices and young workers will be always supervised and will not be allowed to carry out tasks for which they have not been trained.

Policy

Our policy is to:

  • Prevent accidents and cases of work-related ill-health

  • Manage health and safety risks in our workplace

  • Provide clear instructions and adequate training to employees

  • Provide PPE

  • Consult with our employees on matters affecting their health and safety

  • Provide and maintain safe plant and equipment

  • Ensure safe handling and use of substances

  • Maintain safe and healthy working conditions

  • Implement emergency procedures in case of significant incident

Grass mowing

Our instructions to employees for this task are:

  1. Put on your PPE.

  2. Mark area to be mowed with warning signs (if necessary).

  3. Inspect the area and remove any debris.

  4. Inspect the equipment and check all safety features are operating correctly; you must not attempt to defeat any safety function nor use any equipment with damaged or malfunctioning safety features.

  5. Mow the designated area.

  6. Ensure the site remains clear of persons; if not then stop mowing until the site is clear again.

  7. At the completion of mowing, stop the engine and ensure the safety cut off is engaged, remove the key and proceed to clean down the mower.

  8. Clear all debris and fallen greenery in the designated area.

  9. Remove any safety warning signs and ensure the area is left in a safe condition.

Hedge trimming

Our instructions to employees for this task are:

  1. Put on appropriate PPE.

  2. Mark area to be trimmed with warning signs (if necessary).

  3. Inspect the equipment and check all safety features are operating correctly; you must not attempt to defeat any safety function nor use any equipment with damaged or malfunctioning safety features.

  4. Trim the designated area.

  5. High areas must be trimmed using long arm trimmers.

  6. At completion, stop the trimmer, activate the safety cut off switch, clean and return to the safe storage.

  7. Clear all debris and fallen greenery to the designated area.

  8. Remove any safety warning signs and ensure the area is left in a safe condition.

Strimming

Our instructions to employees for this task are:

  1. Put on appropriate PPE.

  2. Mark area to be strimmed with warning signs (if necessary).

  3. Inspect the area to be cut and remove any debris.

  4. Inspect the equipment and check all safety features are operating correctly; you must not attempt to defeat any safety function nor use any equipment with damaged or malfunctioning safety features.

  5. Strim the designated area.

  6. At completion stop the strimmer, activate the safety cut off, clean and return to the safe storage.

  7. Clear all debris to the designated area.

  8. Remove any safety warning signs and ensure the area is left in a safe condition.

Weed killing

Our instructions to employees for this task are:

  1. Weed killer is pre-mixed and kept in proprietary containers which are clamped and secured in the vans.

  2. Put on appropriate PPE

  3. Collect the weed killer from the van and take to area to be mixed.

  4. Fill the sprayer unit half full with water.

  5. Add the correct amount of weed killer for the strength and area required.

  6. Do not spray weed killer in high wind conditions.

  7. Apply the weed killer to the designated area as per supplier's instructions.

  8. Ensure the area is kept free from animals and children until it is safe as per the manufacturer's instructions.

  9. When finished always return the weed killer to the van and ensure it is secured and locked away.

  10. Never leave weed killer unattended under any circumstances.

  11. Never store in unmarked containers or transfer to other containers.

Refuelling procedure for petrol driven mowers and equipment

Our instructions to employees for this task are:

Petrol for the machines is carried in explosion proof metal containers which are secured in the vans.

  1. Machines will be refuelled away from the van, visitors, and members of the public.

  2. Smoking is not permitted during refuelling and operation of the machines nor at any time on site.

  3. Fuel is poured from the proprietary containers through a funnel into the machine tank.

  4. Caution will be exercised to prevent overfilling and spillages; all spillages will be cleared up immediately.

  5. Return the petrol can to the van and ensure it is clamped in position and the van locked.