Health and Safety Policy — Rent a Cleaner: Gardening and Outdoor Cleaning Services

Purpose: This Health and Safety Policy sets out the approach of Rent a Cleaner and related garden cleaning services to protect employees, contractors, clients and members of the public while delivering garden and outdoor cleaning work. The policy is intended to be practical and proportionate, tailored to the risks posed by outdoor environments such as lawns, borders, pathways, hedges and external hard surfaces. It complements statutory duties and good practice without repeating local legal detail.

Scope and Policy Statement

This policy applies to everyone working for or on behalf of the company — including temporary staff, self-employed operatives and subcontractors engaged in rent a cleaner style garden maintenance and cleaning assignments. Our objective is to prevent work-related injuries and ill health by embedding a safety-first culture. Managers must ensure that safe systems of work are implemented, and all staff are provided with relevant training, supervision and resources to work safely.

Risk Identification and Assessment

We conduct and record risk assessments before starting any garden cleaning assignment, whether described as a garden cleaning service or a broader outdoor tidy-up. Common hazards identified include:

• Slips, trips and falls on wet or uneven ground;
• Sharp tools, blades and powered equipment such as strimmers and hedge cutters;
• Exposure to chemicals and disinfectants used during cleaning tasks;
• Manual handling injuries when lifting debris, soil bags or plant material;
• Allergic reactions or poisonings from plants, insect stings or pesticides;
• Sun exposure and heat stress for outdoor workers.

Roles and Responsibilities

Management

Managers and supervisors must ensure assessments are current and that safe work procedures are followed. They are responsible for assigning competent staff to tasks, making sure PPE is available, and ensuring equipment is maintained. The company will support reasonable health surveillance where tasks justify it.

Employees and Contractors

Staff must follow instructions, attend required training, use PPE correctly, and report hazards or near misses immediately. Anyone engaged as a rent-a-cleaner for garden work is expected to take personal responsibility for safety and to ask for guidance if in doubt.

Training, Competence and Supervision

The company provides induction training, task-specific instruction and refresher sessions covering manual handling, use of powered tools, safe use of chemicals and emergency procedures. Supervision levels are matched to competence; inexperienced operatives receive closer supervision until deemed competent. Training records are maintained and reviewed periodically.

Personal Protective Equipment and Safe Systems

Appropriate PPE for garden cleaning and outdoor tidying includes gloves, eye protection, sturdy footwear, high-visibility clothing where relevant, hearing protection for noisy equipment and sun protection. PPE is a last line of defense and should be used alongside safe systems such as traffic management on sites, exclusion zones for powered tools and clear communication protocols.

Equipment, Maintenance and Safe Use

All equipment must be inspected before use and maintained in safe condition. Powered tools will have guards fitted and be used according to manufacturer instructions. Portable equipment is visually inspected and defects reported; defective items are removed from service. Battery and fuel storage follows safe handling rules to reduce fire risk.

Chemicals, Waste and Environmental Controls

Chemical cleaning agents and pesticides are stored, used and disposed of safely. Staff are trained on safe dilution, correct application and the meaning of product safety labels. Waste from garden cleaning, including green waste and contaminated materials, is segregated and disposed of using authorised methods to reduce environmental impact and public health risk.

Manual Handling, Ladders and Working at Height

Manual handling risks are reduced by using mechanical aids where possible and by training in safe lifting techniques. Use of ladders is limited and controlled; elevated work follows a safe work method statement. Tasks involving working above ground level are planned to minimise time spent at height and ensure fall prevention measures are in place.

Vehicles, Site Access and Client Properties

Vehicle safety is part of the overall risk control strategy. Loads are secured, drivers follow safe loading procedures and vehicle checks are conducted before travel. When working on client properties, we coordinate access, respect client safety requests and avoid creating hazards for residents or visitors. Where clients provide site-specific rules, these are incorporated into the task plan.

Incident Reporting, First Aid and Emergency Response

All incidents, injuries and near misses are reported promptly and investigated to identify root causes. First aid arrangements are in place and sufficiently resourced for outdoor work; trained first aiders are available and emergency procedures are communicated. Lessons learned are used to improve safe systems and reduce recurrence.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

We monitor compliance through site inspections, audits and review of incident reports. The policy is reviewed at regular intervals and after significant incidents, changes to work methods, or introduction of new equipment or chemicals. Continuous improvement is supported through refresher training, worker engagement and review of best practice for garden-focused cleaning operations.

Final Statement

This Health and Safety Policy reflects the commitment of Rent a Cleaner and its affiliated garden cleaning teams to maintain safe workplaces and protect health. Every person engaged in our garden cleaning services has a role to play. By working together, following safe systems, and keeping safety under review, we reduce risk and deliver reliable, professional outdoor cleaning and maintenance.

Approval and Implementation

This policy is approved by company leadership and communicated to staff. It is implemented through documented procedures, training and ongoing supervision. All staff are required to familiarise themselves with this policy and contribute to a culture of safety and respect while providing cleaning for gardens and outdoor areas.