Health & Safety Policy — Gardening Kings Cross
Purpose: This Health and Safety policy sets out the principles and commitments of Gardening Kings Cross to protect the health, safety and welfare of employees, contractors, clients and members of the public when delivering Kings Cross gardening and horticultural services. The policy applies to all tasks related to landscaping, garden maintenance, tree work, planting and grounds care across our service area.
Scope: The policy covers risk assessment, training, safe systems of work, provision of suitable personal protective equipment, equipment maintenance and emergency response. It applies to both routine work and occasional operations undertaken by our Kings Cross gardeners and any subcontractors we engage.
Commitment: Gardening Kings Cross commits to continuous improvement of safety performance, prevention of work-related injury and ill health, and compliance with applicable safety standards. All staff and supervisors are expected to put safety first, take reasonable care for themselves and others, and follow this policy as part of delivering quality gardening services in Kings Cross and surrounding neighbourhoods.
Responsibilities and Organisation
Management responsibilities: Senior management will provide leadership, allocate resources and ensure that effective risk controls are in place. Managers will ensure that risk assessments are completed, that staff receive suitable training, and that incidents are investigated promptly.
Employee responsibilities: Every employee and contractor must comply with safe working procedures, use issued PPE, report hazards or near-misses, and participate in training and toolbox talks. Employees should never undertake tasks for which they are not competent or properly trained.
Contractors and visitors: All contractors and visitors must follow site-specific safety instructions and coordinate with our team to manage shared risks. Our company will verify contractor competencies before work begins.
Risk Management and Safe Work Practices
Risk assessment: Systematic risk assessments will be carried out for all recurring tasks and for one-off operations that present significant hazards. Controls will follow the hierarchy of elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls and PPE.
Key hazards include manual handling, the use of power tools and machinery, slips and trips, working at height, contact with hazardous substances (fertilisers and pesticides), and traffic when working near roads or driveways. Controls will be documented, communicated and reviewed.
Safe work procedures: Written procedures will be in place for high-risk tasks such as chainsaw work, machinery operation, shrub and tree pruning, and chemical application. These procedures are mandatory and form part of induction and ongoing training.
Training and Competency: Staff will receive induction training, job-specific instruction and refresher courses. Training records are kept and evaluated. Only competent personnel will operate powered equipment or undertake specialised horticultural tasks.
Equipment and maintenance: All tools, machinery and vehicles will be maintained to a safe standard. Pre-use checks are required, faults must be reported immediately, and defective equipment removed from service until repaired.
Personal protective equipment: Appropriate PPE such as gloves, eye protection, hearing protection, hi-vis clothing and safety boots will be provided and used. Where chemicals are used, suitable respiratory protection and chemical-resistant gloves must be used per the product instructions.
Emergency procedures and first aid: Emergency arrangements will be in place and known by staff, including first aid provision, access to emergency services and procedures for significant incidents. Incident reporting, recording and investigation are part of our learning process to prevent recurrence.
Monitoring, audit and continual improvement: We will monitor safety performance through inspections, incident analysis and periodic reviews. Findings will be acted upon, and the policy updated as necessary. Regular safety meetings and audits support continual improvement.
Implementation: This policy is communicated to all staff, displayed where appropriate and reviewed annually or after a significant change in operations. It forms a central part of how Gardening Kings Cross delivers safe, reliable and professional landscaping and gardening services.
- Key commitments: Proactive risk management
- Competent and trained workforce
- Safe equipment and PPE provision
- Clear incident reporting and learning
Signed on behalf of Gardening Kings Cross: This policy represents our formal commitment to safety and health in all gardening and grounds maintenance activities. It is an integral part of our service promise and operational practice.