Health & Safety Policy for Lawn Mowing Raynes Park

Scope: This policy sets out the health, safety and welfare standards for our lawn mowing and garden maintenance operations across our service area, including lawn mowing in Raynes Park and surrounding neighbourhoods. Our aim is to protect employees, clients, members of the public and contractors by applying robust, proportionate safety measures for all mowing and garden care activities.

Policy Statement

We commit to a safe working environment and continuous improvement. All personnel involved in Raynes Park lawn care and broader mowing services must follow safe systems of work, use appropriate personal protective equipment, and report hazards without delay. This document sets out responsibilities, key controls and operational standards for daily work and planned maintenance.

All staff are encouraged to adopt a proactive safety mindset. Management will provide leadership, suitable training and resources; employees are expected to follow procedures and communicate risks. Our approach balances practical field controls with clear record-keeping and review processes.

Responsibilities and Competence

Supervisors must ensure that every team member has been assessed as competent for specific tasks in lawn maintenance Raynes Park. Training covers safe operation of mowers, strimmers, hedge cutters, battery and petrol-powered equipment, plus manual handling and working near roads or public pathways. All operators must demonstrate competency before independent work.

Risk assessments will be completed for each job, recorded and retained. Assessments must identify trip and slip hazards, proximity to pedestrians, slopes, buried services, and potential for flying debris. Controls include exclusion zones, visible signage, barriers, and a plan for safe disposal of cuttings and green waste.

We maintain a plant and equipment register, with scheduled maintenance and pre-use checks. Faulty machinery is taken out of service until repaired. Batteries and fuel are stored and handled according to manufacturer guidance, and spill kits are available for fuel or oil leaks.

Safe Systems of Work

Before starting any job in the Raynes Park service area, staff must carry out the following:

• Complete a site-specific risk assessment.
• Establish pedestrian control and vehicle access points.
• Ensure all PPE is fitted and worn: hearing protection, eye protection, gloves, suitable footwear and high-visibility clothing.
• Confirm fire extinguisher and first-aid arrangements are in place.

We use hierarchy of controls: eliminate hazards where possible, substitute high-risk tasks, introduce engineering controls (guards, deflectors), implement administrative controls (training, signage) and provide PPE as the final measure.

Emergency procedures include immediate suspension of work if an incident threatens life or limb, secure the area, render first aid, and contact emergency services where needed. All incidents, near misses and injuries must be recorded and investigated to prevent recurrence.

Traffic and Public Safety

Working in domestic and communal gardens often requires interaction with the public. When operating in public-facing areas such as footpaths or verge mowing, teams will implement clear exclusion zones, marshals or spotters where necessary, and ensure machinery is positioned to minimise risk to passersby. Children and animals must be kept at a safe distance at all times.

Contractors and subcontractors engaged for lawn maintenance Raynes Park services must comply with this policy and demonstrate equivalent safety standards. We conduct periodic safety audits and include safety performance in procurement decisions.

Records of training, equipment checks, risk assessments, and incident reports are retained for review. The policy is reviewed at least annually or after any significant incident, change to equipment, or new work practice. Continuous improvement is driven by regular toolbox talks, refresher training and feedback channels within the team.

In summary, our lawn mowing and garden services prioritise safety through competent staff, maintained equipment, clear procedures and active risk management. Adherence to this policy ensures safe, reliable service delivery across our service area while protecting people and property.