Health & Safety Policy — Havering House Clearance

This document sets out the Health and Safety Policy of Havering House Clearance for waste and rubbish operations across our service area. It reflects our commitment to providing a safe working environment for staff, contractors and members of the public while delivering professional rubbish removal services. The policy applies to all activities associated with house clearance, rubbish collection, bulky waste removal and related waste transport. We aim to integrate safety into every job where rubbish clearance or waste disposal tasks are undertaken, ensuring compliance with industry best practice and risk control.

Our objectives are to prevent accidents, reduce ill health and minimise environmental impact while operating as a reliable rubbish company serving the area. Key aims include: systematic risk assessments, appropriate use of personal protective equipment, safe loading and transport of refuse, proper segregation of recyclable and general waste, and controlled handling of potentially hazardous materials encountered during clearances.

The scope covers personnel responsibilities, vehicle and plant safety, manual handling, hazardous waste precautions, training and emergency procedures. All operatives must follow safe systems of work, report hazards promptly and take part in required training. Managers will ensure that site-specific risk assessments are completed prior to work commencing and that controls are implemented in line with the assessment outcomes.

Responsibilities and Training

Directors retain overall responsibility for health and safety policy, while supervisors and team leaders are responsible for daily implementation within the rubbish clearance and waste removal context. Employees are expected to cooperate with safety instructions, use issued PPE and avoid taking unnecessary risks. Contractors working alongside our teams must comply with the same standards and confirm competency before starting work.

Training provision includes induction, manual handling instruction, vehicle loading best practice, and specific courses for dealing with compostable waste, bulky furniture removal and safe lifting techniques. We maintain records of training and competency assessments to ensure that every operative receives timely refresher sessions and updates where procedures or legislation change.

Supervisors will perform routine checks of equipment, vehicles and site set-ups to ensure compliance with the policy. A documented system of toolbox talks, briefings and feedback sessions will reinforce safe working methods. This approach supports our role as a responsible waste removal company in the service area focused on continuous improvement.

Risk Management, Equipment and PPE

Risk assessments identify hazards such as manual handling injuries, slips, trips, falls, traffic interactions, sharps, asbestos risk indicators and chemical exposure from household products. Controls include safe lifting techniques, use of mechanical aids, clear walkways, high-visibility clothing, gloves and eye protection. All staff must wear appropriate PPE and use tools and lifting equipment correctly to prevent injury during rubbish collection tasks with our rubbish removal service vehicles.

The company provides well-maintained vans, trolleys, sack trucks and lifting aids to reduce strain on operatives. Routine vehicle checks, load securing procedures and driver safety policies ensure that refuse transport is handled safely across the service area. Maintenance logs and scheduled inspections are retained to evidence ongoing compliance.

Incident reporting and near-miss recording are mandatory: employees must report any accident, injury or hazard without delay. Reported events will be investigated, corrective actions recorded and lessons fed back into training. The policy includes procedures for first aid provision, emergency evacuation and liaison with emergency services when required, reinforcing our duty to protect staff and clients during a clearance job.

Waste segregation and environmental controls require staff to separate recyclables, general refuse and items that require specialist disposal. Where potentially hazardous items are found—chemical containers, batteries, electronic waste—the operative will isolate the material and follow the specified disposal route in line with the company’s safe handling rules. This ensures that our rubbish collection service remains compliant with environmental responsibilities.

Regular audits and management reviews will assess the effectiveness of health and safety arrangements and drive improvements. Performance metrics include incident rates, near-miss frequency, training completion rates and audit findings. The policy is reviewed at least annually or sooner following significant incidents, changes in operations or legislative updates impacting refuse collection and rubbish clearance activities.

Havering House Clearance expects all employees and partners to support this health and safety policy. By embedding safety into everyday practice, we provide a professional, reliable rubbish clearance and disposal service across our operational area. Commitment at every level — from leadership to operatives — underpins our objective to deliver safe, efficient rubbish collection and waste removal while protecting people and the environment.