Health and Safety Policy – Flat Clearance Hounslow

This policy sets out the commitments of the flat clearance operator to protect the health, safety and welfare of staff, clients and the public during all flat clearance and rubbish removal operations. It applies to every member of the clearance team responsible for flat rubbish removal, waste removal for flats and associated site activities. The policy is maintained as a living document and is reviewed regularly to ensure it reflects best practice for a responsible rubbish company and clearance service area.

The aims of this policy are to: prevent injury and ill health, minimise environmental risk, and ensure safe, compliant removal and disposal of materials. All employees and sub-contractors engaged in flat clearance services must follow the measures set out here and take reasonable care for their own safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Management will provide the necessary resources to meet these aims.

This policy covers key operational areas including risk assessment, training, personal protective equipment (PPE), vehicle safety, manual handling, hazardous waste handling, and incident reporting. It is applicable to every project within the company's clearance service area, irrespective of size, and includes processes for segregation of waste types, reuse where appropriate, and lawful disposal.

Responsibilities and Organisation

Senior management holds overall responsibility for implementation and review of the health and safety policy. Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for day-to-day enforcement of safe systems of work on-site, ensuring that staff adhere to the flat clearance procedures and that risk assessments are current. Employees must report hazards and follow instructions regarding safe rubbish clearance and flat waste removal.

Specific duties include:

• Carrying out site risk assessments before starting any clearance operation.
• Maintaining training records and ensuring competence for tasks such as asbestos awareness, sharps handling and safe vehicle loading.
• Ensuring PPE is available and used correctly.

Training and competence form a core part of our controls. Staff receive induction training, periodic refresher sessions, and job-specific instruction on: manual handling, safe use of tools, correct segregation of recyclables and refuse, and procedures for encountering unknown hazardous materials during a flat clearance task. Competence is reassessed after any incident or change in operational procedures.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

All jobs will have an appropriate written or electronic risk assessment prior to commencement. Assessments consider access arrangements, stairs and lifts, potential for asbestos-containing materials in older properties, sharps and biomedical waste, vermin, and the need for secure lifting equipment. Where risks cannot be suitably controlled, work will not proceed until measures are implemented.

Safe systems of work include clear task segmentation, use of team lifting techniques to manage manual handling risks, deployment of appropriate handling aids and trolleys, and securing loads for transport. The company operates a permit-to-work approach for non-routine tasks that introduce additional risk, ensuring authorisation and control measures are in place.

Vehicles and plant are maintained to a documented schedule and inspected before use. Drivers and operators are trained and hold relevant licences. Loading and unloading are supervised to prevent falls from height and to ensure that waste is contained securely for transit. The rubbish company follows legal load restraint guidance to protect road users and staff.

Personal protective equipment is provided free of charge and must be worn as specified. Standard PPE for flat clearance includes high-visibility clothing, gloves suitable for handling mixed waste, safety footwear, and eye protection where debris may be dislodged. For tasks with respiratory risk or known hazardous dust, appropriate respiratory protection will be provided and used.

Hazardous materials encountered during flat clearances will be handled in accordance with regulatory requirements. This includes segregation of batteries, solvents, oils and electronic waste, containment of spillages, and the use of specialist contractors for controlled asbestos removal. The company maintains procedures to identify potential chemical hazards and to apply the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) principles where applicable.

Accident and incident reporting procedures are integral to continuous improvement. All incidents, including near-misses, must be reported promptly. Investigations seek to identify root causes and to implement corrective actions. Records are maintained, and lessons learned are communicated to all staff to reduce the likelihood of recurrence.

Monitoring, audit and review processes ensure that the policy is effective. Management conducts routine site inspections, audits operational records and evaluates trends in incidents and non-conformances. Results inform training priorities and operational changes across the clearance service area.

Engagement with staff is encouraged through toolbox talks and briefings. Employees are empowered to stop work if they believe a situation is unsafe. The company promotes a safety culture where open communication and continuous learning underpin safer outcomes during flat clearances and rubbish removal operations.

This Health and Safety Policy is supported by documented procedures and safe work instructions. It is reviewed at least annually and whenever there is a significant change to operations, equipment, or legislation. By implementing and monitoring these arrangements, the company commits to reducing harm, protecting the environment and delivering responsible flat clearance services.