Hillingdon House Clearance Health & Safety Policy

Hillingdon House Clearance maintains a comprehensive health and safety policy designed to protect staff, clients and the public during all house clearance and rubbish removal operations in our service area. This policy applies to every team member and contractor engaged in our rubbish collection service area activities and outlines responsibilities, safe working practices and monitoring arrangements. Our goal is to deliver efficient waste removal and house clearance services while minimising risk and promoting a safe working environment.

We recognise that as a rubbish company operating across a defined rubbish company service area, practical controls and clear procedures are essential. All staff must adhere to the policy, report hazards, and use the correct equipment. The company will provide suitable training, personal protective equipment (PPE) and support to ensure compliance. Health and safety is an ongoing commitment and forms part of our everyday operations.

This policy covers risk assessment, incident reporting, vehicle and manual handling safety, waste separation and management, hazardous materials handling, site security and public protection when conducting house clearance or waste removal in the rubbish removal service area. It also details arrangements for safe disposal and recycling where appropriate, striving to reduce environmental impact as part of our waste removal and clearance duties.

Responsibilities and Organisational Arrangements

Senior management at Hillingdon House Clearance has overall responsibility for ensuring that the business operates safely within the house clearance service area. Managers will ensure that appropriate training, risk assessments and resources are available. Supervisors are responsible for day-to-day compliance, ensuring teams follow safe systems of work and that PPE is used correctly. Every employee must take reasonable care of their own safety and that of others.

Key responsibilities include:

• Risk assessments: identify hazards, evaluate risks and determine control measures;
• Safe systems: implement procedures for manual handling, lifting, vehicle loading and site access;
• Training: provide induction, refresher training and task-specific instruction;
• Reporting: ensure incidents and near-misses are reported, investigated and recorded.

Managers will maintain records of training, vehicle checks and risk assessments. Regular safety briefings will take place before clearance jobs and rubbish collection tasks. Supervisors must ensure that team members understand site-specific hazards, including the presence of sharp items, asbestos suspects, chemicals, needles and other potential contaminants during house clearances.

Risk Control Measures and Safe Working Practices

Before work commences, a site-specific risk assessment will be completed for each clearance in the rubbish collection service area. Controls will include safe access routes, segregation of waste streams, use of mechanical aids for heavy items and clear exclusion zones to protect the public. Manual handling techniques will be emphasised and mechanical lifting aids used where practicable to reduce musculoskeletal injuries.

PPE requirements include gloves, high-visibility clothing, safety boots, eye protection and appropriate respiratory protection when dust or hazardous materials are suspected. Equipment such as trolleys, sack trucks and lifting straps must be properly maintained. Vehicle safety checks are mandatory daily and drivers must follow load-securing procedures to prevent shifting during transport.

Hazardous waste or materials discovered during a clearance that are outside routine household rubbish (e.g., chemicals, solvents, asbestos-like materials, sharps) will be segregated and handled with caution. Where necessary, work will be stopped and specialist removal arranged. We will not accept items that pose an unacceptable risk without appropriate controls in place. Disposal routes will follow appropriate waste transfer procedures without naming regulatory or local legal details.

Training, competence and communication are central to safe service delivery. All personnel involved in house clearance and waste removal must complete induction training and periodic competency checks. Training topics include manual handling, PPE use, vehicle safety, hazard recognition, spill control and emergency procedures. Supervisors will provide toolbox talks and maintain clear communication channels for reporting and resolving safety concerns.

Incident reporting and investigation procedures ensure learning from accidents and near-misses. All incidents must be reported promptly, documented and reviewed. Corrective actions will be implemented to prevent recurrence. Our approach emphasises transparency, timely investigation and support for affected staff.

Monitoring, audit and review processes will check compliance across our rubbish removal service area. Routine inspections, vehicle and equipment maintenance, and documented risk assessments will be reviewed regularly. Senior management will review this policy at defined intervals and after any significant incident to ensure it remains effective and reflects evolving best practice.

Hillingdon House Clearance seeks continuous improvement in safety performance across its clearance and rubbish removal operations. Regular feedback from staff about hazards and suggestions for improvement will be encouraged, without attributing blame. The company will invest in safer equipment, improved training and process enhancements to reduce risk.

Summary of key points:

• Clear responsibilities for management, supervisors and staff;
• Site-specific risk assessments and controls for waste removal;
• PPE, training and safe systems for manual handling and vehicle operations;
• Immediate segregation and specialist handling of hazardous materials;
• Formal incident reporting, investigation and continuous monitoring.

Commitment: Hillingdon House Clearance is committed to maintaining a safe working environment for everyone involved in house clearance and rubbish removal activities. This policy will be communicated to all employees and made available to contractors working within our service area to ensure consistent standards of health and safety.