House Clearance Camden Health & Safety Policy

This Health and Safety policy sets out the commitment of our House Clearance Camden team to deliver safe, compliant and responsible clearance and rubbish removal services. The purpose of this document is to define the scope, responsibilities and key procedures that protect employees, contractors, clients and the public during house clearances, waste clearance work and related operations. This policy applies to all clearance services in Camden and the surrounding service area, including domestic and small commercial properties, and covers temporary works, vehicle loading and site handover.

Scope and Objectives

The objectives of this policy are to: ensure safe working practices during all house clearance activities; minimise risk from manual handling, hazardous items and waste; maintain environmental controls and ensure lawful disposal of rubbish; and promote a culture of continuous improvement in health and safety. This policy supports our rubbish removal teams to identify hazards, assess risks and apply sensible controls to protect everyone involved.

Responsibilities and Duties

All personnel have clear duties under this policy. Senior management is responsible for providing adequate resources, training and oversight. Supervisors must implement safe systems of work on each job and ensure risk assessments are current. Employees are required to follow safe procedures, use provided personal protective equipment and report hazards promptly. Contractors engaged for specialised tasks must provide evidence of competence and carry relevant insurance.

• Management: policy enforcement, training provision, resource allocation.
• Supervisors: site risk assessment, toolbox talks, permit control where required.
• Operatives: correct PPE use, safe lifting techniques, incident reporting.

Roles are reviewed regularly to ensure that staff levels and skills match the demands of clearance projects. The policy uses a hierarchy of controls: eliminate hazards where possible, substitute or isolate, apply engineering or administrative controls, and provide personal protection as a last line of defence.

Risk Assessment and Safe Work Procedures

Before any clearance work begins a documented risk assessment must be carried out for each property. Key points include identification of sharps, hazardous materials (such as asbestos suspect items, batteries, solvents), trip and fall risks, structural stability, vermin and biohazards. The assessment will determine control measures including segregation of waste streams, safe lifting limits, mechanical aids and restrictions on working alone.

The company enforces standard safe work procedures for common tasks: room-by-room clearing, loading into vehicles, handing over items for recycling, and vehicle securing. For complex or high-risk jobs an enhanced method statement is prepared and authorised by management. These procedures emphasise the use of correct lifting techniques, mechanical handling where feasible and step-by-step checks to prevent avoidable incidents.

Safe vehicle operations are included in the procedures. Rubbish removal vehicles are to be loaded and unloaded on stable ground, with wheel chocks and secure tailgate practices. Drivers must carry out vehicle checks and ensure waste is contained and covered during transit to prevent spillage.

Personal Protective Equipment, Training and Competence

PPE is provided according to assessed risk and includes gloves, steel-toe boots, hi-vis clothing, eye protection and respiratory protection where required. A clear PPE matrix defines minimum standards for each task. All staff must complete induction training and ongoing competence checks. Training covers manual handling, waste segregation, hazardous materials awareness, and incident reporting procedures.

Waste handling training emphasises separation of recyclable materials from general waste, correct containment of hazardous items and secure packaging of sharp objects. Staff are trained to recognise items that require specialist disposal and to quarantine these until proper arrangements are in place.

Regular toolbox talks, refresher courses and on-site supervision ensure that safety measures remain current and effective. Competency records are maintained for all operatives and contractors engaged in clearance work.

Emergency Procedures, Incident Reporting and Monitoring

In the event of an emergency, the priority is the safety of people. Clear procedures exist for first aid, fire, chemical exposure and other urgent incidents. Staff are instructed to secure the area, summon assistance and preserve evidence for any subsequent investigation.

All incidents, near misses and hazardous observations must be reported immediately using the company incident form. Reported incidents are investigated to identify root causes and to implement corrective actions. Lessons learned are communicated to the wider team and incorporated into future risk assessments and training.

Monitoring and review of health and safety performance is conducted through regular site audits, vehicle checks and management reviews. Key performance indicators include incident frequency, completion of risk assessments, training currency and compliance with waste disposal procedures. The policy is reviewed annually or when there are significant changes to operations, regulations or after any major incident.

Waste Management, Environmental Considerations and Continuous Improvement

The company is committed to responsible waste management and reducing landfill through reuse, recycling and appropriate disposal. During every house clearance our teams prioritise donating usable items where practical, segregating recyclable materials and ensuring hazardous waste is dealt with by licensed handlers. Environmental protection measures include controlling dust, preventing run-off and using permitted disposal routes.

Continuous improvement underpins the policy. Feedback from audits, legal requirements and industry best practice is used to refine procedures. The organisation will maintain appropriate insurance, licences and documentation to demonstrate compliance with health, safety and environmental obligations, while keeping a focus on safe, efficient rubbish collection and clearance services across our service area.

By following this Health and Safety Policy, our house clearance teams will provide a professional, safe and legally compliant service, protecting people and the environment during every removal and clearance operation.