House Clearance Health & Safety Policy — Clearance Service Standards

Purpose: This Health and Safety Policy sets out the commitments and practical measures adopted by our house clearance and rubbish removal teams to protect workers, clients and the public during any house clearance project in our service area. The policy applies to all waste removal and rubbish collection activities carried out by the clearance company, including pre-clearance surveys, manual handling of bulky items, removal of potentially hazardous materials and vehicle loading. It explains responsibilities, risk control measures and the expectations for safe working practices.

Scope: The policy covers domestic and light commercial clearances performed by the company and applies to employees, contractors and sub-contractors engaged to provide house clearance West Wickham and surrounding service area operations. It is designed to align with general safety principles and good industry practice for waste management, including safe lifting techniques, use of PPE, traffic management during collections and secure disposal of regulated waste. Staff are expected to read and follow this policy as part of their normal duties.

Policy Statement: The business recognises its duty to provide a safe working environment and to minimise risks associated with rubbish removal and clearance work. We will ensure that risks are assessed, that employees receive suitable training, and that adequate resources are provided to control hazards. The company will strive for continuous improvement in safety performance and will investigate all incidents, near misses and complaints to prevent recurrence.

Management Responsibilities: Management will ensure that risk assessments are completed for clearance jobs and that safe systems of work are implemented. This includes planning lifts, providing suitable vehicles and equipment, ensuring correct waste segregation, and making sure that hazardous items (e.g., asbestos suspect materials, sharps, electrical appliances with fluids) are identified and handled in accordance with regulations. Management will also ensure that staff have access to training, welfare facilities and appropriate PPE.

Employee Duties: All operatives engaged in house clearance or rubbish collection duties must follow established safe working procedures, use provided PPE (gloves, high-visibility clothing, safety boots, eye protection where required), and undertake manual handling only after assessing the load. Workers must report hazards, damaged equipment or unsafe conditions immediately and cooperate with incident investigations. Competent supervision is to be provided on-site to ensure compliance with this policy.

Contractors & Sub-Contractors: Any contracted labour or partner rubbish company used by the firm must demonstrate equivalent safety standards. Contractors shall provide their own method statements where applicable and comply with the company’s site rules, reporting procedures and waste handling instructions.

The company will conduct pre-job risk assessments for all clearances to identify hazards such as trip and fall risks, unstable furniture, biological hazards (mold, animal waste), chemical residues, sharps and potential manual handling risks. Control measures will be proportionate and may include:

• Planning and job briefings before work commences to assign roles and identify control measures.
• Use of mechanical aids and trolleys to reduce manual handling where practical.
• Segregation and labelling of waste streams for correct disposal.
• Traffic management and vehicle loading procedures to protect operatives and the public.

Personal Protective Equipment & Training: The company provides suitable PPE and training on its correct use. Training includes manual handling, use of lifting aids, safe vehicle loading practices, sharps awareness and basic first aid. New starters receive an induction covering this policy and site-specific hazards. Refresher training is provided periodically and following any significant policy changes or incidents.

Accident Reporting & Emergency Procedures: All incidents and near misses must be reported immediately to a supervisor. The business will maintain an incident log and ensure appropriate investigation and remedial actions. Emergency procedures, including dealing with injury, chemical exposure or discovery of hazardous materials, are documented and accessible to staff. Where necessary, work will be stopped until hazards are controlled.

Monitoring & Review: Safety performance will be monitored through regular site inspections, toolbox talks and review of incident data. The policy will be reviewed annually or after any significant incident to ensure it remains effective and reflects current best practice for house clearance and waste removal activities. Management will seek input from staff to improve practical controls and working arrangements.

Commitment to Compliance: The company maintains a commitment to operate within the legislative framework relevant to waste removal, clearance services and workplace health and safety. While this policy does not list specific legal provisions, the organisation will ensure that appropriate licences, consents and waste transfer documentation are used where required and that regulated waste is handled in a compliant manner. Strong leadership, clear communication and defined responsibilities ensure the policy is implemented consistently across all sites and projects.