Health & Safety Policy — Lawn Mowing Chessington

This Health and Safety Policy outlines the standards and practices we follow for Lawn Mowing Chessington and surrounding service areas. It explains our commitment to protecting staff, clients, contractors and the public while delivering professional lawn care in Chessington and related grounds maintenance work. The policy applies to all grass cutting Chessington jobs, from routine mowing to complex site clearance, and sets clear responsibilities and controls to reduce risk.

The purpose of this policy is to provide a consistent approach to risk management across gardening and turf services. It complements job-specific assessments and safe systems of work, and it should be read together with on-site briefings and method statements. Our aim is to ensure every operation is planned, supervised and executed with safety as the priority.

Scope includes, but is not limited to: routine lawn mowing, edging, strimming, debris clearance and small-scale landscaping tasks. We also cover work in private gardens, communal green spaces and commercial grounds where our team provides professional grass cutting services in and around the Chessington area. All activities must follow this policy and site-specific risk assessments.

Responsibilities and Training

Management has overall responsibility for implementing and reviewing this policy. Supervisors will ensure staff have the correct training, information and equipment. Every operative has a duty to follow safe systems of work and report hazards. Key responsibilities include:

• Management: policy enforcement, provision of PPE, maintenance schedules and incident reporting systems.
• Supervisors: daily briefings, competence checks and ensuring risk assessments are current.
• Operatives: correct use of tools, wearing required PPE and reporting near-misses or defects.

Training covers safe machine operation, manual handling, hazardous substances awareness, noise and vibration control, and first aid. We provide documented training records and deliver refresher sessions. Where specialist equipment or techniques are needed, only trained personnel will carry out the work.

Risk Assessment and Control Measures

Before any job, a written risk assessment must be completed and communicated. Assessments consider ground conditions, slopes, obstacles, public access, weather and proximity to roads or services. Control measures include:

• Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as safety boots, eye protection, gloves, hearing protection and hi-vis garments.
• Ensuring equipment is well maintained and fitted with guards and safety devices.
• Establishing exclusion zones with signs or cones when working near the public or traffic.
• Implementing safe systems for refuelling, battery charging and handling hazardous materials like fuels and lubricants.

All machinery used for grass cutting Chessington services must undergo pre-use checks and periodic servicing. Faulty items are removed from service and tagged until repaired. Where mechanical failure could cause harm, a lock-off procedure must be followed.

Manual handling controls reduce strain and injury. Team lifting is required for heavy items; mechanical aids are used where practical. Operatives must use correct lifting techniques and plan lifts in advance. Work schedules are arranged to minimize repetitive strain from prolonged mowing or strimming tasks.

Emergency procedures are in place for incidents such as serious injury, fire or environmental contamination. First aid kits and trained first aiders are provided on larger sites. Incidents are recorded, investigated and lessons applied to prevent recurrence. In the event of a serious incident, management will review the risk assessment and update procedures promptly.

Environmental protection is integral to our approach. Fuel and oil spills are controlled with spill kits and containment measures. Waste grass, cuttings and green waste are handled according to site requirements, and advice is given to clients on responsible disposal. We also consider biodiversity and soil protection when planning turf and lawn operations.

Communication is vital: pre-start briefings, toolbox talks and visible signage help keep everyone informed. Operatives are encouraged to raise safety concerns and contribute to continuous improvement. Regular audits and site inspections monitor compliance with the policy and identify opportunities for improvement.

Performance is measured by incident reports, near-miss records, training completion rates and audit results. Management commits to acting on findings and investing in safer equipment and training to reduce hazards in lawn maintenance and groundskeeping work.

Review and Revision: this policy is reviewed at planned intervals or after significant incidents, changes in equipment or legislation. It remains a live document, revised to reflect best practice and operational lessons learned from our lawn care activities in Chessington and nearby service areas.

Commitment: we are committed to delivering quality turf and garden maintenance while managing risk responsibly. This Health & Safety Policy supports a culture where safety is as important as the standard of work we provide in grass cutting and lawn maintenance across the service area.

All staff, contractors and stakeholders must read and comply with this policy. Working together, we aim to achieve a safe working environment and maintain the high standards expected of a professional gardening and lawn mowing team.

Policy ownership remains with senior management who will ensure resources are available to implement the measures described. The policy is accessible to all employees and will be communicated during induction, training and prior to site work.