House Clearance Hanwell - Health & Safety Policy

This Health and Safety Policy sets out the commitment of House Clearance Hanwell to protect the health, safety and welfare of employees, contractors and members of the public during all house clearance and rubbish removal activities. Our approach is founded on a clear set of responsibilities, proactive risk management and compliance with applicable waste handling and disposal standards. The policy applies to all operations across our service area, covering house clearance services, waste collection, recycling and safe disposal.

Our objective is to reduce incidents and injuries to the lowest practicable level through planning, training and equipment provision. Managers and supervisors are accountable for implementing safety measures during every clearance, whether clearing a domestic property, estate, or small commercial premises. Employees must follow instructions, report hazards and wear specified personal protective equipment (PPE). Regular reviews ensure the policy reflects evolving best practice for rubbish clearance and waste management.

Scope and responsibilities are clearly defined: the company provides leadership and resources; supervisors conduct risk assessments; operatives follow safe working procedures and report incidents; and contractors must demonstrate competence before working on our sites. Key responsibilities include:

• Conducting site-specific risk assessments before any removal activity begins
• Providing and enforcing use of PPE including gloves, safety boots, hi-vis and respiratory protection when needed
• Ensuring safe manual handling practices to limit back injuries and strains
• Maintaining vehicle and equipment safety standards for all refuse and waste clearance vehicles

Risk Assessment, Training and Supervision

We undertake systematic risk assessments for all clearance operations to identify hazards such as sharps, asbestos-containing materials, hazardous liquids, electrical items and bulky waste. Risk controls are prioritised using the hierarchy of control: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls and PPE. Training is ongoing, with induction for new staff, refresher sessions and practical demonstration of safe lifting and handling techniques relevant to house clearance tasks and rubbish collection.

Operational safety also covers vehicle loading, securement of loads, and safe transit between sites. Drivers and operatives must adhere to safe loading limits and ensure waste is separated where required for recycling, reuse or disposal. Documentation such as waste transfer notes and segregation records are maintained to support compliant recycling and disposal of materials collected during the clearance and rubbish removal process.

Personal Protective Equipment and Hazardous Waste

PPE is provided and maintained for all staff. Items include cut-resistant gloves, eye protection, steel toe boots, masks and hearing protection as appropriate. Special procedures govern identification and handling of hazardous or potentially hazardous items such as chemicals, batteries, medical waste and suspected asbestos. Where hazardous materials are present, work is stopped and specialist contractors are engaged to manage removal safely.

Emergency preparedness and incident management are core components of our policy. All teams are trained in basic first aid, spill control and emergency evacuation procedures. Incidents, near misses and environmental releases are reported and investigated to identify root causes and to prevent recurrence. The company maintains an incident log and conducts regular drills to ensure readiness and continual improvement of emergency response for house clearance and rubbish removal activities.

Contractor management and competence assurance ensure that any third parties engaged to support a clearance meet our safety standards. Subcontractors are required to provide evidence of insurance, risk assessments and method statements. We audit contractor performance and safety compliance periodically, and corrective actions are implemented where necessary to maintain a safe working environment across all waste clearance operations.

Monitoring, review and continual improvement form the final pillar of this policy. Performance indicators such as accident rates, near-miss reports, training completion and audit results are tracked and reviewed by senior management. The policy is subject to regular review at least annually, or sooner if legislative changes, incidents or operational changes warrant it. Our commitment is to foster a safety-conscious culture where staff feel empowered to speak up and where safety is integrated into every clearance task.