House Clearance Alperton Health and Safety Policy

This Health and Safety policy sets out the commitment of House Clearance Alperton and associated rubbish removal services to protect the health, safety and welfare of employees, clients, contractors and the public during clearance and waste collection operations. Our aim is to operate a robust, consistent approach to risk management that applies to house clearance, residential clearouts, and commercial rubbish removal across our service area. This document applies to all staff and any third parties engaged on our behalf.

The policy outlines roles and responsibilities, hazard identification, control measures, training requirements and monitoring procedures. Management will ensure adequate resources are available and will promote a culture where safety is prioritised. All operatives are expected to follow safe systems of work, report hazards promptly, and participate in safety briefings and competency checks for house clearance and rubbish disposal tasks.

Key responsibilities include:

• Senior management – develop and review policy, allocate resources and ensure compliance;
• Supervisors – implement safe working procedures and oversee clearance crews;
• Operators – follow training, use PPE and report incidents without delay.

These responsibilities cover household clearance, bulky waste collection, hazardous item handling and vehicle-based rubbish removal work.

All operations begin with a dynamic risk assessment to identify site-specific hazards such as manual handling loads, sharps, needle-stick risks, hazardous materials, unstable structures and traffic risks during kerbside rubbish collection. Controls follow the hierarchy: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls and personal protective equipment. Where risks cannot be eliminated they will be reduced so far as is reasonably practicable.

Manual handling is a principal risk for any clearance company. Staff will be trained in safe lifting techniques, mechanical aids will be used whenever possible, and loads will be assessed before moving. Teams will use trolleys, sack trucks and lifting straps as appropriate for bulky waste and furniture. Young or inexperienced operatives are supervised until competency is demonstrated.

Waste classification and segregation are mandatory. Potentially hazardous waste such as solvents, batteries, asbestos-containing materials, electrical waste and biological waste is identified and segregated for specialist disposal. Our house clearance teams follow safe containment procedures and use approved carriers for hazardous waste. Sharps and medical waste are handled using puncture-resistant containers and trained operatives, reducing infection risks during domestic clearouts.

Personal protective equipment is provided and must be used: gloves, eye protection, high-visibility clothing, steel-toe boots and, where applicable, respiratory protection. COSHH principles are applied where chemical exposure is possible during cleaning and disposal. PPE selection is based on task-specific risk assessments for each rubbish clearance job.

Training and competence form a core control measure. Induction, task-based training, toolbox talks and refresher sessions are delivered regularly. Recording of training ensures operatives on any Alperton house clearance or rubbish removal job are qualified for the tasks they undertake. Supervisors carry out frequent spot checks and competency assessments.

Vehicle and site safety are enforced: vehicles are loaded to safe limits, loads are secured, and drivers follow safe driving and manual handling practices during rubbish collection rounds. Worksites are kept tidy, cordoned where necessary, and signage is used to warn members of the public. Lone working procedures, mobile check-ins and emergency contact protocols are in place for operatives working off-site.

Incident reporting and investigation ensure continual improvement. All accidents, near misses and unsafe conditions are reported, recorded and investigated to identify root causes and corrective actions. Lessons learned feed into policy reviews and training updates so that our clearance operations continually reduce harm and improve safety performance.

Monitoring and review include regular audits, inspections and performance indicators related to house clearance activities and general rubbish removal. Management reviews are scheduled annually or sooner if significant changes occur, with findings communicated to staff and integrated into operational procedures.

In summary, this policy emphasises that safety is everyone’s responsibility: management, supervisors and operatives in the clearance company must work together to maintain safe, efficient removal and disposal of waste. House Clearance Alperton and associated rubbish removal services commit to continual improvement, compliance with applicable standards and to delivering clear, practical measures that protect people and the environment.