Health and Safety Policy — Garden Maintenance Victoria

Garden Maintenance Victoria is committed to delivering safe, professional gardening and groundskeeping while protecting the health of our team, clients and the public. This policy sets out the key principles and obligations that guide our daily work in landscape care, garden upkeep and routine maintenance services. The purpose of this statement is to ensure that every activity carried out by our staff and contractors meets consistent safety expectations and follows best practice for garden maintenance in Victoria and similar service areas.

Scope and Responsibilities

This policy applies to all employees, subcontractors and visitors engaged in our gardening services. Management has overall responsibility for safety systems, while supervisors and crew leaders are responsible for implementing procedures on site. Individual workers must follow safe work methods, wear issued personal protective equipment and report hazards. Our scope includes lawn mowing, pruning, planting, hedge work, mulching, irrigation maintenance and soft landscaping tasks routinely performed by a professional gardening company.

Effective risk management starts with identifying hazards, assessing risks and controlling them using the hierarchy of controls. Typical on-site hazards include manual handling, slips and trips, cuts from tools, exposure to chemicals, falling branches and traffic near kerbs. Control measures we use include safe systems of work, tool guards and maintenance, mechanical aids, exclusion zones during tree work, and clear signage. A brief checklist of common risk controls follows:

• Pre-start checks for equipment and site conditions
• Appropriate PPE such as gloves, eye and ear protection, hi-vis and footwear
• Tool and equipment maintenance and pre-use inspections
• Safe manual handling techniques and team lifts for heavy loads

Training, Competency and Supervision

All staff receive induction training covering this policy, emergency procedures and the safe operation of common gardening equipment. Supervisors provide on-the-job coaching and ensure workers are competent for tasks such as using ride-on mowers, chainsaws or elevated work platforms. We maintain records of qualifications and refresher training. Where specialist skills are required, we engage only qualified personnel and confirm competency before assigning work, reinforcing safe gardening practices across our teams.

Equipment safety and personal protective equipment (PPE) are central to preventing workplace injuries. Machines are serviced to manufacturer standards, guards are kept in place and fuel is handled in ventilated areas using approved containers. PPE is provided and must be worn where hazards are present: gloves, hearing protection, eye protection and appropriate footwear. Chemical handling follows product labels and safety data sheet advice; only trained staff apply pesticides or fertilizers and storage complies with safe containment measures.

Work planning includes traffic management for sites adjacent to roads, safe access to properties, and consideration of public interactions. We employ exclusion zones and barriers when cutting hedges or removing limbs, and we control pedestrian access during noisy or dusty tasks. Communication tools such as radios or mobile devices are used for remote supervision and to coordinate multi-person tasks, reducing risk during complex maintenance operations.

Incident reporting, investigation and corrective action form a continuous improvement cycle. All incidents, injuries and near-misses must be reported immediately so that root causes are identified and preventive steps are implemented. Investigations focus on learning and may lead to changes in procedures, additional training or equipment modifications. We keep secure records of incidents and follow up to ensure corrective actions are effective and sustainable.

Contractor and subcontractor management is handled through pre-engagement checks, clear scope definitions and health and safety requirements. Anyone working on behalf of our company must comply with this policy and demonstrate appropriate insurance, licences and competency. Coordination with property managers and other trades ensures safe sequencing of work and reduces overlapping hazards during garden care projects. Collaboration emphasizes shared responsibility and practical controls to keep everyone safe.

Monitoring, audits and review ensure the policy remains relevant and effective. Routine site inspections, toolbox talks and periodic audits measure compliance and identify improvement opportunities. Management reviews this policy annually or after significant incidents, and we adapt procedures to reflect changes in equipment, industry practice or risk profile. By fostering a culture of safety, Garden Maintenance Victoria aims to provide reliable, professional gardening services with minimal risk to workers and clients, maintaining high standards in all garden maintenance and landscaping activities.