Health & Safety Policy — Blackheath House Clearance

Blackheath House Clearance is committed to maintaining a safe, healthy and compliant working environment for all employees, contractors and members of the public affected by our house clearance and rubbish removal operations. This policy outlines the standards and procedures that govern our refuse handling, waste clearance and site safety. It applies to all roles, from operatives working on clearances to drivers, office staff and managers responsible for coordinating clearance and rubbish collection services.

Statement of intent: We will seek to prevent injury and ill health, reduce risks from manual handling and hazardous materials, and ensure our rubbish disposal activities are carried out lawfully and responsibly. All personnel must follow safe systems of work and use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). The company will provide resources for training, supervision and equipment necessary to manage risks associated with waste removal and clearance projects.

Scope and applicability

The policy covers residential and commercial house clearance, bulky item removal, rubbish collection and site clearance services provided by the company. It addresses risks associated with lifting, loading, transport, segregation of waste, handling of potentially hazardous items and working in confined spaces or at height. The requirements here apply at every site and for every job whether routine rubbish clearance, specialized waste removal or post-tenancy clearance.

Responsibilities and roles

Management holds the overall duty to implement and review this policy and to ensure risk assessments and method statements are in place. Supervisors are responsible for enforcing safe working practices on site. Individual operatives must follow instructions, report hazards and use PPE. Contractors and temporary workers are required to meet the same safety standards as permanent staff when engaged in rubbish clearance duties. Everyone has the right to stop work if immediate danger is present.

Risk assessment, planning and controls: Before work begins a documented risk assessment and job plan will be completed for each clearance project. This will identify hazards such as sharp objects, asbestos-containing materials, electrical risks, fluids, and unstable loads. Control measures include use of mechanical aids for heavy lifts, segregation of waste streams, safe stacking and securing of loads in refuse vehicles, and designated exclusion zones during bulky waste removal. Key controls are maintained through toolbox talks and written safe systems of work.

Operational controls include mandatory PPE (gloves, eye protection, high-visibility clothing, steel-toe boots), lifting technique training and the use of trolleys and lifting aids. We emphasize safe rubbish transport practices: vehicles must be loaded to design limits, loads secured, and drivers trained in safe transit and roadside working procedures. Rubbish clearance and waste handling protocols ensure that recyclable items are segregated and that hazardous items are identified and isolated for correct disposal.

Training, competence and communication: The company provides regular training, refreshers and assessments for operatives involved in clearance and rubbish removal. Training covers manual handling, safe use of equipment, hazardous waste awareness, confined space precautions and vehicle safety. Supervisors deliver pre-job briefings and toolbox talks to reinforce safe practice. Clear, documented communication channels are in place to escalate hazards and incidents and to record corrective actions following near-misses or accidents.

Hazardous waste and special materials: Items such as batteries, solvents, asbestos-containing materials, sealed gas cylinders, and certain electronics require special handling and disposal. Operatives must not assume unknown items are safe; instead, they must follow the hazardous waste procedure and isolate suspect materials for specialist removal. The company will engage licensed waste carriers and disposal facilities for regulated waste streams and maintain waste transfer documentation to demonstrate legal compliance.

Vehicles, equipment and maintenance: All clearance vehicles, lifting equipment and tools will be inspected and maintained to a documented schedule. Drivers and operators must perform pre-use checks and report defects immediately. Mechanical lifting aids, straps and restraints must be suitable for the task and used correctly to prevent load shifts during rubbish transport. Safe loading, stacking and unloading procedures reduce the risk of manual handling injuries and vehicular incidents.

Emergency procedures and incident reporting: The company maintains emergency plans for first aid, fire, spill response and vehicle incidents. First aid supplies and trained first aiders will be available at suitable locations. All incidents, injuries and near-misses must be reported promptly, recorded and investigated to determine root causes and preventive actions. We will implement corrective measures, communicate lessons learned and update risk assessments accordingly to avoid recurrence.

Monitoring, audit and continuous improvement: Health and safety performance will be monitored through regular site inspections, safety audits and performance metrics relating to accidents, near-misses and compliance. Senior management will review these records and ensure that lessons inform changes to procedures, training and resource allocation. Internal audits and periodic reviews will verify that rubbish clearance standards and legal obligations are being met.

Policy review and commitment: This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed at least annually or when changes in operations, legislation or incidents indicate the need for revision. Blackheath House Clearance is committed to continual improvement and to integrating health, safety and environmental considerations into everyday operations. All employees and contractors are required to cooperate with this policy and to contribute to a culture where safety and responsible rubbish disposal are core values.