Our approach 2023
Landscaping is one of the highest hazard industries in the service sector with the fatality rate per 100,000 workers in the landscaping industry being 25.1 compared to 3.8 for all industries. Non-fatal injuries are also disproportionately high, with injuries occurring most commonly from contact with objects/equipment, falls from elevation, and transportation.
At Cotswold Estates and Gardens recognising the high-risk nature of the services we provide we work with our workforce to constantly strive to ensure our Health and Safety procedures are robust and effective. During autumn 2023 we moved from working with a standalone health and safety consultant and joined market leader in Health and Safety advice, guidance and systems ‘Citation’ who provide an online platform and services designed to assist companies to best manage workplace safety.
Alongside 24/7 advice, a hotline service and specific guidance the platform offers features such as centralisation of documentation, tracking, regulatory updates, management of audits and inspections, incident management, employee training courses and tracking.
We have found their approach to streamlining documentation and standardised regular audits with comprehensive feedback and advice to have a huge impact on the formalisation of our health and Safety systems. Providing a framework to ensure that monitoring and review are carried out to a regular schedule and to a high standard of compliance.
The online training modules which are available to all staff now form part of our annual training program with staff able to access a greater variety of courses on a more frequent basis.