Health and Safety Policy — Stoke Newington House Clearance

This Health and Safety Policy sets out the commitments and operational standards for Stoke Newington House Clearance and affiliated rubbish removal teams operating across our service area. The purpose of this policy is to protect employees, contractors, customers and the public from injury and ill health while delivering house clearance, waste collection and rubbish clearance services. Our approach balances legal compliance with practical controls: risk assessment, training, supervision and the provision of suitable PPE, equipment and safe systems of work. The policy applies to all domestic and commercial clearance operations and to any third-party contractors engaged to support our work.

Policy Statement

We will maintain a management system that ensures hazards are identified and reduced so far as is reasonably practicable. Responsibilities are allocated and understood through clear lines of accountability. Senior management will ensure resources are available to support safe rubbish collection and waste removal activities. Employees at every level must comply with instructions and report hazards. We will monitor performance and review our procedures regularly to capture lessons learned from incidents or near misses. This policy is endorsed at board level and forms part of our legal and ethical commitment to safety.

Management, supervisors and operatives each have defined duties: managers ensure policies, training and equipment; supervisors maintain safe systems on site; operatives follow safe operating procedures for lifting, vehicle loading, segregation of waste and hazardous item handling. Contractors are required to follow equivalent standards before being permitted on-site. Core controls include pre-job risk assessments, written method statements where needed, use of mechanical aids and strict controls for sharps, chemicals, asbestos-suspect materials and electrical items. A short itemised checklist accompanies every job to confirm these steps.

Risk Assessment and Control Measures

Risk assessments are carried out for each clearance job and recorded in our job management system. Assessments consider manual handling, slips, trips and falls, working at height, vehicle movements, public interactions and hazardous materials. Where residual risk remains, controls are implemented using the hierarchy of measures: elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative controls and PPE. We emphasise safe manual handling techniques and the correct use of lifting aids to minimise musculoskeletal injuries during rubbish removal and bulky item clearances.

Training and competence are central to effective safety performance. All staff receive induction training covering company policies, emergency procedures and safe work practices specific to house clearance and waste collection. Refresher training, toolbox talks and certified courses (for safe vehicle operation, hazardous waste handling or asbestos awareness where applicable) are provided. Training records are maintained and competency assessments conducted periodically to ensure operatives meet the standards expected for clearance services.

We use safe systems of work including segregated waste streams for recyclable materials and hazardous items, secure containment for sharp objects and clear labelling of contaminated or suspect materials. Vehicles are maintained to a high standard with secure restraints for loads, appropriate signage and safe parking practices to protect the public when operating in residential streets. Our rubbish company ensures compliance with waste transfer documentation and duty of care obligations without disclosing customer information.

Incident Management, Reporting and Emergency Response

Incidents, near misses and safety observations must be reported immediately using our incident reporting system. This allows timely investigation, root cause analysis and corrective action to prevent recurrence. First aid provision is available on larger jobs and staff are trained in basic first aid and emergency procedures. In the event of a spill, contamination or suspected asbestos discovery, work will stop, the area secured and competent advice obtained. We maintain an emergency plan for vehicle accidents, fire or severe injuries to ensure rapid response and appropriate liaison with emergency services.

Contractors and visitors are required to sign in, receive a site briefing and follow site rules. Personal protective equipment such as gloves, high-visibility clothing, steel-toe boots and eye protection are mandatory where risk assessments identify the need. Respiratory protective equipment is used in accordance with task-specific assessments. Regular inspections and audits are conducted to verify PPE usage, vehicle safety and the effectiveness of control measures across all house clearance and rubbish removal operations.

Review and continuous improvement are integral to this policy. Performance indicators, audit results and feedback from staff drive changes to procedures and training. The policy is reviewed at least annually or after significant incidents, changes in legislation or operational scope. All staff are encouraged to contribute ideas to improve safety and to report any hazards they encounter. This Health and Safety Policy for the house clearance service area is a living document, intended to maintain high standards for safe removal, transport and disposal of waste while protecting people and the environment.