Health and Safety Policy — House Clearance Limehouse

This document sets out the health and safety policy for services delivered by our dedicated rubbish removal and house clearance teams. The policy applies to all employees, subcontractors and visitors involved in house clearance operations across our service area. It is designed to ensure that risks are identified and controlled, that legal and industry standards are met, and that safe working practices are embedded into every stage of waste clearance and junk removal activities.

The senior management team accepts overall responsibility for ensuring that adequate resources are provided to implement and maintain safe systems of work. Our objectives include elimination of hazards where practical, reduction of accidents and incidents, and continual improvement through monitoring and review. This policy covers manual handling, vehicle operations, hazardous materials management and site-specific risk assessments for both domestic and commercial property clearances.

Risk assessment is central to our approach. Prior to any collection, a competent operative will conduct a site appraisal to identify hazards such as sharps, asbestos-containing materials, chemical containers and unstable structures. Control measures will be established and documented. Where appropriate we will segregate materials for recycling, reuse or disposal and ensure that hazardous wastes are identified, packed and transported under the correct classification and consignment procedures to licensed facilities.

Our personnel are required to follow safe lifting techniques, use mechanical aids where provided, and avoid lone-working in high-risk situations. Personal protective equipment (PPE) including gloves, eye protection, high-visibility clothing and respiratory protective equipment will be issued and maintained. Employees must report damaged PPE and request replacements; the company will ensure fit testing and instruction for respirators when used.

Training and competence are essential. All staff engaged in waste clearance, rubbish collection and home clearance services receive induction training that covers manual handling, hazardous waste awareness, vehicle loading and securement, traffic safety, and site-specific controls. Refresher training and toolbox talks are provided regularly. Records of qualifications, licences and training attendances are maintained.

Vehicles and plant used for rubbish clearance are inspected daily by operators; a formal maintenance and inspection regime is in place. Drivers and loaders must secure loads to prevent shifting during transit and follow established routes and weight restrictions. Forklifts, compactors and other powered equipment are operated only by authorised personnel with appropriate training and safety checks.

Responsibilities

The company will:

• Provide suitable equipment, PPE and training;
• Ensure risk assessments and safe systems of work are in place;
• Monitor compliance through inspections and audits;
• Investigate incidents and implement corrective actions.

Employees and contractors must follow instructions, use provided controls, report hazards and incidents promptly, and participate in safety training. Supervisors are responsible for ensuring task-specific briefings are completed and that staff are competent to undertake assigned duties.

Safe handling of hazardous materials is a priority. Suspected asbestos-containing materials will not be disturbed and will be reported to management for specialist assessment. Chemical wastes, batteries, solvents and oils are segregated, labelled and stored in suitable containers in accordance with relevant waste duty of care obligations. We will not accept controlled wastes unless appropriate arrangements and licensing are confirmed.

Incident reporting and emergency procedures

All accidents, near misses and environmental releases must be reported without delay. An incident investigation will determine root causes and corrective measures. Emergency procedures, including spill response and first aid, are communicated to staff and are available on request. First aid kits and trained first aiders are provided at appropriate locations.

We maintain insurance and documentation to support safe operations and compliance. Regular audits and third-party inspections are used to test the effectiveness of controls. Where non-conformances are found, action plans with timescales and responsible persons are created to ensure improvement and closure.

Monitoring, review and continual improvement

Performance indicators for health and safety include incident frequency, near-miss reports, completion of safety audits and training records. Management reviews the policy and its implementation at defined intervals or after significant incidents. Changes to legislation, technology or company practices trigger a review to ensure ongoing compliance and effectiveness in our waste clearance operations.

All employees are encouraged to contribute to safety improvements through hazard reporting and participation in review meetings. This policy is communicated to existing and new staff, and is available to contractors and relevant stakeholders. By fostering a safety-first culture, the company aims to deliver reliable, lawful and safe house and rubbish clearance services across the service area while protecting people, property and the environment.