Your legal obligation
What the law requires from garden maintenance businesses
Health and safety responsibilities depend on the work you do, who could be affected and whether you employ anyone. Relevant hazards in gardening and garden maintenance can include mowers and powered tools, flying debris, manual handling, noise, uneven ground and public access. Risk assessment and appropriate controls are central to managing those risks. Written records and specific policies may be required depending on your circumstances; for example, employers with five or more employees must record significant risk assessment findings. Check current HSE guidance and any sector-specific requirements. A purchased pack helps you organise your information but does not replace inspecting your own workplace, implementing controls or obtaining specialist advice when needed.
The real problem
Garden maintenance workers use pesticides and power tools with significant COSHH and physical risks but often lack formal documentation
Free templates can be helpful, but you still need to work out which hazards and controls apply to your gardening and garden maintenance business. Our questionnaire uses your answers to tailor the pack, giving you a clearer starting point to check, adapt and implement.
£47.99 one-off
Five personalised core PDF documents plus five supporting Word files. No subscription. Access, edit and regenerate your core documents in your account for 12 months; review them before use.
Your trade, specifically
The risks and requirements specific to your work
Garden maintenance operatives handle a complex mix of chemical hazards and physical risks daily. You work with glyphosate-based herbicides, glufosinate, paraquat substitutes, and pre-emergent chemicals like pendimethalin. Fungicides containing chlorothalonil or mancozeb exposure occurs during application to ornamentals and turf. Fertiliser dust inhalation from granular NPK products and organic matter handling presents respiratory concerns. Your toolkit includes petrol-powered strimmers, chainsaws, rotavators, and hedge trimmers generating noise above 85dB regularly. Manual handling of soil, mulch, and plants creates chronic back strain injury risk. You operate at height on ladders pruning trees, work in variable weather conditions, handle sharp tools constantly, and face significant UV exposure during extended outdoor work. Ground hazards include hidden debris, uneven terrain, and trip risks from garden structures. Client gardens present unknown hazards: underground cables, water features, concealed obstacles, pet animals, and neighbour boundaries. Skin contact with soil-borne pathogens and dermatitis from repeated chemical and plant exposure remains a persistent occupational hazard requiring detailed prevention protocols.
The cost of getting it wrong
What happens without proper documentation
Poorly managed health and safety can lead to accidents, disruption, enforcement action or claims, depending on the circumstances. For gardeners and garden maintenance businesses, sensible priorities include mowers and powered tools, flying debris, manual handling, noise, uneven ground and public access. Buying documents alone does not remove those risks; the important step is to assess the work and follow appropriate controls.