Greenwich House Clearance – Health and Safety Policy

Purpose: This Health and Safety policy sets out the commitment of Greenwich House Clearance to protect the health, safety and welfare of employees, contractors and members of the public in the course of providing house clearance, rubbish removal and waste removal services. The policy applies to all service activities, including domestic clearances, commercial clearance jobs and the collection and disposal phases of any clearance service. Our aim is to reduce risk, promote safe working and ensure compliance with applicable health and safety standards for a responsible rubbish company operating in its service area.

Scope and objectives

This policy covers operational procedures for rubbish removal, rubbish collection and on-site clearance activities. It defines responsibilities, outlines risk assessment processes and provides requirements for training, equipment, vehicle safety and hazardous material handling. The objectives are to: minimise accidents and incidents, ensure safe waste handling, protect workers from manual handling injuries and to maintain safe conditions for customers and the public while our clearance teams deliver a professional rubbish clearance service.

Legal and organisational framework

Greenwich House Clearance will meet its legal duties by maintaining a documented management system that supports safe waste management practices. The company adopts recognised standards for the clearance service and waste removal industry, implementing written procedures for incident reporting, regular inspections and safe operations for all rubbish company activities. All contractors and subcontractors engaged by the business must follow this policy and cooperate with site safety arrangements.

Responsibilities:

The following responsibilities are established to support the policy:

• Directors and Managers: Provide leadership on health and safety, allocate resources, review risk assessments and ensure continual improvement of the waste removal service.
• Supervisors and Team Leaders: Ensure safe systems of work are followed on each clearance job, confirm job-specific briefings have been completed and monitor competence of operatives in rubbish removal tasks.
• Employees and Operatives: Follow safe working procedures, attend required training, use personal protective equipment (PPE) and report hazards, near misses or incidents immediately.

Risk assessment and control measures: Every clearance site will have a documented risk assessment prior to work starting. Risk assessments will identify manual handling hazards, trip and fall risks, sharps and biohazardous materials, vehicle and loading risks and environmental hazards. Controls will include mechanical aids, safe lifting techniques, exclusion zones, signage, and use of appropriate PPE. If hazardous waste is discovered, work will stop and the matter will be dealt with by trained personnel using the correct waste segregation procedures and specialist disposal routes.

Training and competence:

All staff involved in house clearance and rubbish clearance operations will receive induction training that covers the policy, risk assessment interpretation, manual handling, hazardous waste awareness and vehicle safety. Refresher training and toolbox talks will be provided regularly. Competence checks and records will be maintained to ensure operatives delivering the clearance service are competent for the tasks assigned.

PPE and equipment: The company will provide appropriate PPE, including gloves, safety boots, high visibility clothing, eye protection and respiratory protection where needed. Mechanical lifting aids and trolleys will be available to reduce manual handling. All tools and equipment used in rubbish collection and clearance service operations will be regularly inspected, maintained and removed from service if found defective.

Vehicle, loading and transport safety

Vehicles used in waste removal services must be roadworthy, properly maintained and loaded to prevent spillage or shifting of loads. Operatives will follow safe loading procedures, ensure loads are secured and comply with carriage limits. Drivers and loaders will be trained in vehicle safety checks and safe loading techniques to prevent injuries during transport and collection rounds. Vehicle-related incidents and near misses must be reported and investigated.

Hazardous waste and segregation: Where suspected hazardous materials are found during a clearance, the operative must halt work and segregate the item where safe to do so. The policy prohibits the disposal of regulated hazardous waste in general skips or refuse streams. The company will ensure that hazardous materials are handled by trained staff and disposed of via authorised channels in line with statutory requirements for safe waste management.

Emergency procedures and first aid: Emergency response plans are in place for incidents such as injuries, fires, fuel spills or dangerous goods exposure. First aid kits are available in vehicles and at depots, with trained first aiders appointed. Incidents will be recorded, investigated and corrective actions implemented to prevent recurrence. Where necessary, emergency services will be contacted following escalation procedures.

Reporting, monitoring and continuous improvement

Greenwich House Clearance commits to monitoring safety performance through regular site inspections, audits and review of incident statistics related to rubbish removal and clearance operations. Records of training, risk assessments and equipment checks will be maintained. Findings from monitoring activities will inform improvements to operations, training needs and procedural updates for the waste removal service.

Worker engagement: Staff input is critical to the effectiveness of the policy. Operatives will be encouraged to raise safety concerns, suggest improvements and participate in pre-job briefings. A culture of open reporting for hazards and near misses will be maintained so that lessons are learned and shared across the clearance teams.

Policy review and accountability: This policy will be reviewed at least annually or following a significant incident, change in operations or regulatory update. Senior management will remain accountable for its implementation. The commitment is to ensure the safe delivery of house clearance, rubbish collection and waste removal services while protecting staff, customers and the public and minimising environmental impact.

Conclusion: Greenwich House Clearance maintains a clear and active approach to health and safety. By applying structured risk assessments, appropriate control measures, defined responsibilities and continuous improvement, the company seeks to deliver a reliable rubbish removal service and professional clearance service across its service area. All personnel engaged in rubbish company operations are expected to understand and implement this policy fully.

Key safety commitments:

• Protect health and safety of staff and the public during clearance and removal operations.
• Ensure compliance with waste handling and hazardous material procedures.
• Provide training, PPE and safe equipment for all clearance activities.

Enforcement: Failure to comply with this policy may result in disciplinary action. The company reserves the right to stop unsafe work immediately and to require remedial actions before work resumes. This policy is issued as part of our commitment to responsible, safe and lawful rubbish clearance and waste management practice.