Health and Safety Policy — Harrow House Clearance

Purpose and scope: This Health and Safety policy sets out the obligations and controls that Harrow House Clearance applies to all house clearance, rubbish removal and waste collection operations. It is the responsibility of management and staff to ensure that safe systems of work are implemented and maintained across the full service area of the rubbish company. The policy applies to employees, contractors and any persons directly engaged in site clearance, skip-free disposal, bulky waste collection and related waste management tasks.

Policy statement

Our objective is to protect the health, safety and welfare of everyone affected by our house clearance service. We commit to meeting legal requirements and industry best practice for a rubbish removal business, ensuring risk is managed, accidents are investigated and continuous improvement is pursued. All staff will receive training, appropriate equipment and supervision to carry out duties safely.

Responsibilities

Management responsibilities include risk assessment, provision of PPE, maintenance of vehicles and plant, and ensuring that safe lifting and waste handling procedures are documented and followed. Management must also ensure that lone-working and confined space risks are controlled and that emergency procedures are in place.

Employee responsibilities include following safe systems of work, reporting hazards, using PPE correctly and participating in training. Employees must not undertake tasks beyond their competence and should report any defects in equipment, vehicle or site conditions that could increase risk during rubbish collection or home clearance work.

Contractor and visitor duties: All third parties operating on behalf of the waste removal company must comply with this policy and provide evidence of their competence and insurance where required. Visitors and occupiers of premises must be informed of any hazards arising from clearance activities.

Risk assessment and controls

Regular risk assessments will be carried out for routine and non-routine tasks including manual handling, asbestos suspicion, sharps, hazardous liquids and electrical items. Control measures will include elimination of hazards where possible, safe segregation and labelling of waste, use of mechanical aids for lifting, and clear exclusion zones during heavy vehicle operations.

Specific hazards and safe working practices:

• Manual handling: Implement safe lifting techniques, team lifts, trolleys and hoists where practicable.
• Sharp objects and hazardous materials: Use puncture-resistant gloves, sealed containers for sharps, and trained response for chemical or biological contamination.
• Vehicles and road safety: Secure loads, use reversing aids and spotters, and maintain vehicles to manufacturer standard.
• Asbestos and suspect materials: Cease work and seek specialist assessment if suspect asbestos containing materials are found.
• Fire and waste storage: Store combustible waste safely, keep access routes clear and maintain suitable fire extinguishers on site and in vehicles.

Training, competence and supervision

All personnel will receive induction training covering welfare, PPE, manual handling and reporting procedures. Role-specific training covers safe use of lifting equipment, vehicle loading and segregation of reusable items. Supervisors will monitor compliance and arrange refresher training at defined intervals or after incidents.

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

PPE is a last line of defence and will be selected following risk assessment. Typical items include high-visibility clothing, cut-resistant gloves, safety boots, eye protection and respiratory protection where dust or fumes may occur. PPE must be inspected before each use and recorded as part of equipment checks.

Incident reporting and investigation

All accidents, near misses and unsafe conditions must be reported immediately to supervision. Investigations will identify root causes, assign corrective actions and update risk assessments. Records will be kept to demonstrate compliance and to inform training and prevention strategies.

Monitoring and review

The effectiveness of this Health and Safety policy will be monitored through site inspections, vehicle checks, training records and analysis of incident reports. Periodic reviews will ensure the policy remains current with regulatory changes and emerging risks in the waste collection and house clearance sector. The rubbish company will set measurable targets for accident reduction and waste handling performance.

Communication and welfare

Health and safety information will be communicated to staff through toolbox talks, written procedures and safety notices. Welfare facilities at operational bases will be maintained, and staff are encouraged to raise concerns about health, stress or fatigue which could affect safety during collections or clearances.

Continuous improvement

The business is committed to continual improvement in health, safety and environmental performance. Audits, stakeholder feedback and lessons learned from incidents will drive updates to procedures, training and equipment to reduce risk across all house clearance and waste removal activities.

Legal compliance and record keeping

Harrow House Clearance will comply with applicable health and safety legislation relevant to waste collection, handling and disposal. Records of risk assessments, training, vehicle maintenance, PPE issuance and incident reports will be maintained to demonstrate compliance and support any statutory inspections.

Policy review and ownership: This policy is owned by senior management and will be reviewed at least annually or following a significant incident, change in operations or updated legal requirements. Staff will be informed of revisions and required to comply with any new procedures.

Adherence to this policy protects employees, customers and the public while supporting a professional, compliant rubbish removal and house clearance service.