Health and Safety Policy — Gardener Victoria

Purpose and scope: This Health and Safety Policy sets out the commitment of Gardener Victoria and associated garden maintenance teams to protect the health, safety and welfare of employees, contractors and the public while delivering professional garden services. It applies to routine lawn care, pruning, planting, landscape construction and specialist horticultural work carried out by our gardening company. The policy is designed to be practical, clear and proportionate, so every Victoria gardener and crew member understands their role in reducing risk and promoting a safe work culture.

Our safety commitment — We will provide and maintain safe working conditions, safe plant and equipment, and safe systems of work. Managers and supervisors will ensure hazards are identified and mitigated, and that risk assessments are completed before starting work on site. The horticultural team will follow safe procedures for use of hand tools, power equipment, ladders and machinery, and adhere to appropriate manual handling and chemical safety precautions. All personnel are expected to act responsibly and report any unsafe conditions promptly.

Who this covers: This policy covers our full-time and part-time employees, seasonal staff, subcontractors and any third parties engaged by the garden and landscaping business to perform work. It relates to activities in private and communal residential gardens, commercial sites and public spaces where our landscape gardener services operate. The policy complements site-specific instructions and any applicable property owner rules, ensuring consistent standards across different locations and job types.

Responsibilities and roles

Management is responsible for creating and maintaining a safe workplace, allocating resources for training and equipment, and ensuring incidents are investigated. Supervisors and crew leaders must brief staff on hazards, verify that protective equipment is used and that plant and tools are inspected and maintained. Individual workers must follow instructions, use provided personal protective equipment (PPE), and stop work if a situation is unsafe. Visitors and clients should be informed of work zones and asked to keep clear of active operations.

Risk assessment and control measures

Risk assessments are conducted for routine tasks and for non-routine activities such as tree removal, heavy lifting or chemical application. Controls follow a hierarchy: eliminate hazards where possible, substitute less hazardous methods, implement engineering and administrative controls, and supply appropriate PPE. Examples include isolating work areas with markers, using mechanical aids for lifting, employing guards on power equipment, and following safe refuelling and maintenance routines for machinery.

Key control measures used by this gardening company include:

• Pre-start checks on machinery and tools to identify defects;
• Tool selection and maintenance to prevent failures and reduce vibration-related injuries;
• Appropriate PPE such as gloves, eye protection, hearing protection and steel-capped boots;
• Safe traffic management around sites to protect pedestrians and workers from mobile equipment;
• Safe storage, handling and disposal of agrochemicals and lubricants with clear labeling and MSDS references.

Training and competency are essential. We ensure all staff receive induction training on company policies, emergency procedures and site-specific risks. Ongoing training covers first aid, chemical handling, use of power equipment, ladder safety and manual handling techniques. Supervised on-the-job mentoring supports less experienced gardeners, and competency assessments help confirm skills for tasks such as operating ride-on mowers or chainsaws. Our approach is to build capability while maintaining a culture where safety is considered part of professional garden work.

Incident reporting and investigation — All incidents, near misses and injuries must be reported promptly through our internal reporting process. Timely reporting helps identify trends and prevents recurrence. Investigations are proportionate and aim to find root causes and practical corrective actions rather than to allocate blame. Outcomes may include revised procedures, additional training, equipment upgrades or design changes to tasks to reduce future risk for our garden services teams.

Emergency response and first aid — Each work site will have an identified first aider or a nominated responder and appropriate first aid supplies. Emergency procedures are established for serious incidents, including procedures for contacting emergency services and securing the scene. Crews carry communication devices and, where necessary, a site-specific plan for evacuation or medical response. This ensures that Victoria gardener crews can act quickly and effectively when urgent assistance is needed.

Monitoring, review and continuous improvement — The safety performance of the gardening company is monitored through regular inspections, audits and review of incident data. Management will review the policy periodically or following significant incidents, changes in work practices, or the introduction of new equipment. Feedback from staff is actively encouraged to identify improvements and ensure that the policy remains relevant and effective for garden maintenance operations.

Contractor and subcontractor management: Contractors engaged to support our landscaping and garden maintenance operations are required to meet or exceed our safety expectations. They must provide evidence of competence, safe systems of work and adequate insurance. Coordination between client, contractor and our teams includes clear communication of responsibilities, shared risk controls and verification that safe practices are being followed on site.

Policy ownership and review: This Health and Safety Policy for Gardener Victoria is owned by senior management and is supported by supervisors and team leaders. It will be reviewed at least annually and updated as necessary to reflect changes in operations, technology or legislative expectations. By embedding safety into daily routines and decision-making, our gardening company aims to protect people, property and the environment while delivering reliable garden and landscaping services.