Flat Clearance Newham Health & Safety Policy

The purpose of this Health and Safety Policy is to set out the commitment of Flat Clearance Newham to maintain a safe working environment for staff, contractors and members of the public affected by our flat clearance and rubbish removal operations. This policy applies across our rubbish company service area and to all tasks associated with waste clearance, junk removal, bulky item disposal and recycling activities carried out on behalf of clients.

Our approach is based on risk prevention, continual improvement and compliance with applicable health and safety standards. We aim to minimise harm through careful planning, adequate supervision, suitable equipment and robust procedures for hazardous or complex clearances. Everyone engaged in flat clearance services must read, understand and follow this policy and supporting procedures.

Responsibilities and Roles

Management will provide leadership, resources and training to implement the policy. Managers are responsible for ensuring that each site clearance has a nominated competent person to supervise safety, carry out permit checks and coordinate welfare arrangements. Employees and operatives must take reasonable care of their own health and safety, cooperate with control measures and report hazards promptly.

Contractors and temporary staff working as part of our waste clearance teams must comply with our site rules. Subcontractors engaged for specialist removals or hazardous waste transport will provide evidence of appropriate insurance, licences and method statements before work commences. Our rubbish company teams are briefed on their specific duties for each job and required to confirm understanding before mobilising.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

We carry out pre-job risk assessments for all clearances, taking into account confined spaces, asbestos suspect materials, sharps, electrical hazards and manual handling demands. Control measures are selected to eliminate risks where possible or to reduce them to a tolerable level. Controls include mechanical aids, exclusion zones, traffic management and scheduled breaks during heavy lifting.

Key control measures are documented in method statements and form part of the safe system of work. These documents describe step-by-step procedures for safe rubbish removal, bulky item dismantling and segregated waste handling so that everyone understands the sequence and precautions for each task.

Personal Protective Equipment and Training

All operatives are issued with appropriate PPE such as gloves, hi-vis clothing, safety boots, eye protection and respiratory protection when required. PPE selection is task-specific and monitored for serviceability. Training programmes include manual handling techniques, COSHH awareness for hazardous substances, working at height procedures and safe vehicle loading practices relevant to a local and wider rubbish company service area.

Regular toolbox talks, refresher courses and on-the-job coaching reinforce safe behaviours. We maintain training records and competency logs so that personnel deployed to client properties are suitably qualified for house clearance, commercial waste removal or communal-area clearouts.

Emergency procedures are in place for incidents such as spills, injuries or fire. All teams carry first-aid kits and have access to emergency contact protocols. Near-miss reporting is encouraged to learn from incidents and to revise controls where necessary.

Environmental and waste segregation practices are integral to our safety policy. Materials are segregated at source to reduce contamination risks and to facilitate recycling. Hazardous items discovered during clearances (e.g., batteries, chemicals, asbestos suspects) are isolated and handled by authorised personnel only, following legal disposal routes. Our waste handling procedures reduce exposure risks and support responsible waste management across the rubbish removal service area.

Equipment maintenance schedules cover vans, lifting aids, trolleys and hand tools used in flat clearances. Regular inspections and prompt removal of defective equipment prevent incidents. Vehicles are loaded and secured to avoid shifting during transit, and manual handling risks are mitigated through team lifts and mechanical assistance wherever practicable.

Performance is monitored through routine site inspections, safety audits and review of incident statistics. Objectives and targets for health and safety are set annually and communicated to staff. Continuous improvement is sought by updating procedures, investing in safer equipment and consulting with employees on practical safety solutions for the junk removal and flat clearance work they undertake.

Compliance and legal obligations are respected: we maintain relevant permits and follow statutory waste transfer requirements without listing specifics here. Insurance, licensing and duty-of-care records are kept up to date and available for audit. The policy is reviewed periodically and after significant changes in operations or following a serious incident.

Non-compliance with this policy by staff or contractors may result in disciplinary action or removal from site duties. We expect all people working with us to act responsibly and to contribute to a safe, healthy and efficient service area for rubbish clearance. Management commits to providing the necessary resources to meet these obligations.

Signed on behalf of the company, this policy statement sets the standard for safe flat clearance, house and commercial rubbish services. It will be communicated to all staff and made available to stakeholders involved in waste and clearance activities.