Wanstead House Clearance — Health & Safety Policy

Purpose: This Health and Safety Policy sets out the commitment of Wanstead House Clearance to maintain safe working practices across our rubbish removal service and wider waste collection operations. It applies to all employees, contractors and anyone who may be affected by our activities. The aim is to prevent injury, ill health and environmental harm while delivering professional house clearance rubbish and waste disposal services within our service area.

Scope

This policy covers all aspects of our rubbish company service area activities including domestic and commercial house clearances, hazardous material handling, vehicle operations and on-site waste segregation. It is designed to complement statutory obligations and industry standards and to be practical for use on every job.

Team conducting site risk assessment for house clearance Risk assessment and planning: Before any clearance or waste collection job, a competent person shall conduct a documented risk assessment. Assessments will identify manual handling hazards, asbestos or sharps risks, confined spaces, and environmental sensitivities. Controls will be implemented and recorded for each site in our house clearance and rubbish removal schedules.

Roles and Responsibilities

Management are responsible for ensuring that adequate resources, training and supervision are provided. Supervisors will enforce safe systems of work on site. All staff are expected to follow instructions, use provided personal protective equipment and report hazards promptly.

Directors: Establish and review health and safety policy.
Supervisors: Implement site-specific controls and oversee compliance.
Operatives: Use correct lifting techniques and PPE, and participate in training.

This structure supports effective waste collection service area operations and ensures accountability for safety at every level.

Operatives using PPE and handling waste during clearance

Training and competence

All operatives will receive induction training on safe rubbish clearance practice, waste segregation, use of tools and vehicles, and emergency procedures. Training records are kept for each employee and refreshed periodically. Competence checks and practical assessments will be applied to tasks involving machinery, hazardous materials and complex clearances.

Safe Working Procedures

Our standard operating procedures for house clearance rubbish work include pre-job briefings, use of appropriate lifting aids, mechanical assistance for bulky items, and clear exclusion zones during operations. PPE requirements include gloves, eye protection, hi-vis clothing, and steel toe boots where necessary. Contractors must meet our PPE standards before starting work.

Vehicle and transport safety: Vehicles used for rubbish removal are inspected and maintained in line with legal requirements. Loads must be secured to prevent shifting, and weight limits observed to avoid overloading. Drivers will follow safe driving policies and ensure that waste is transported to authorised facilities.

Hazardous materials and disposal: Materials suspected of being asbestos, chemicals, or medical waste will be isolated and handled only by trained personnel following statutory guidance. Waste segregation for recycling, reuse and appropriate disposal is core to our environmental responsibilities in the waste collection service area.

Incident Reporting and Emergency Response

All incidents, near misses and environmental releases must be reported immediately to management. An incident investigation will be conducted to identify root causes and corrective actions. Emergency procedures include first aid provision, spill response kits, and access to off-site emergency services when required.

Supervisor reviewing contractor documentation on site Monitoring, audit and review Regular site audits and toolbox talks will monitor compliance with this policy. Performance indicators include incident rates, completion of risk assessments, training completion and audit scores. Formal policy review will occur at least annually or sooner if regulatory change or significant incident necessitates an update.

Final policy endorsement and team commitment image

Contractors and temporary workers

Contractors engaged to support clearance projects must provide evidence of competency, insurance and adherence to our safety standards. They will receive a site-specific induction and be monitored by our supervisors. Subcontracted rubbish removal teams are required to work within the same safety framework as direct employees.

Health and Wellbeing The company promotes physical and mental wellbeing through ergonomic practices, appropriate rest breaks, and access to support services. Employees are encouraged to report health concerns early so adjustments or medical referrals can be made where necessary.

Legal compliance and continuous improvement: Wanstead House Clearance will comply with applicable health and safety legislation and industry best practice across its operations. We commit to continuous improvement, learning from inspections, incidents and stakeholder feedback to enhance our rubbish removal and waste management processes.

Policy adoption: This policy is endorsed by senior management and will be communicated to all staff. It forms part of our operational documentation and is available to relevant stakeholders. Regular enforcement and updates ensure that our house clearance rubbish services remain safe, compliant and professional across our service area.