Health and Safety Policy — Flat Clearance Havering

Purpose: This Health and Safety Policy sets out the commitment of Flat Clearance Havering to provide a safe and healthy environment for employees, contractors and members of the public affected by our rubbish removal and flat clearance operations. Our aim is to reduce risk through robust systems, competent staffing and continuous improvement. All operatives and managers must familiarise themselves with the policy and act in accordance with its provisions. Safety is a core value of our clearance services.

Scope and Responsibilities

This policy applies to all waste removal and clearance activities carried out by the company, including residential flat clearances, bulk rubbish collection and light waste disposal. Managers are responsible for implementing controls and ensuring compliance, while staff must follow safe systems of work. The company will allocate resources to ensure safe plant, equipment and training. Regular communication and toolbox talks will support team awareness of hazards relating to waste handling, manual lifting and vehicle loading.

Legal and policy context: Flat Clearance Havering recognises its obligations under applicable health and safety regulations governing waste operations and will adhere to relevant industry standards. While this document provides the framework for safety management, specific operational procedures and risk assessments will detail the controls for each job. Subcontractors and temporary staff engaged in rubbish collection must comply with the same standards and demonstrate competence before undertaking work.

Risk Assessment and Control Measures

Systematic risk assessments are carried out for all clearance jobs to identify and control hazards such as sharp objects, hazardous materials, pest contamination, manual handling risks and traffic or access constraints during waste removal. Controls will include safe segregation of materials, appropriate containment, use of mechanical aids, and clear exclusion zones where necessary. Regular inspection of equipment and vehicles ensures that waste disposal and removal activities are carried out safely and efficiently.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) & Welfare: The company will provide and maintain PPE appropriate to the task: gloves, hi-vis clothing, safety boots, eye protection and respiratory protection when required. All staff must wear issued PPE and report any defects immediately. Welfare provisions include suitable rest facilities, first aid supplies and access to drinking water during prolonged clearance tasks. Operatives are encouraged to take scheduled breaks to minimise fatigue-related incidents.

Training and Competence

Training is fundamental to safe rubbish handling and clearance services. Induction training covers safe manual handling, hazardous material awareness and vehicle loading procedures. Ongoing competence checks, refreshers and role-specific training (for example, safe use of lifting equipment or working at height where applicable) ensure that teams remain capable of managing evolving site risks. Records of training and competence assessments are maintained and reviewed periodically.

Safe Systems of Work include written procedures for:

• Pre-job briefings to identify hazards and control measures;
• Segregation and labelling of recyclable and hazardous waste;
• Vehicle loading practices to prevent shifting loads and maintain stability;
• Secure storage of tools and equipment to prevent trips and falls.

These measures reduce the likelihood of incidents during flat clearance and rubbish collection operations.

Emergency Procedures and Incident Reporting Emergency procedures cover first aid, fire response, spillage control and arrangements for severe weather or on-site incidents. All incidents, near misses and unsafe conditions must be reported immediately through the company’s reporting system to enable timely investigation and corrective actions. Investigations will identify root causes and implement measures to prevent recurrence, including updates to risk assessments and training where needed.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement Flat Clearance Havering commits to monitoring health and safety performance through regular inspections, audits and review of incident data. Key performance indicators will include incident frequency, completion of risk assessments, and training uptake. Policies and procedures are reviewed at least annually or following any significant incident, regulatory change or operational development. Management will consult with staff to capture practical improvements from operatives who deliver rubbish removal and clearance services daily.