Team preparing for a house clearance job with protective gear

Health and Safety Policy — Hounslow House Clearance

This Health and Safety Policy sets out the responsibilities and controls for Hounslow House Clearance operating as a rubbish company service area. It is intended to provide a clear, concise statement of the company's approach to protecting employees, contractors, clients and the public while delivering house clearance, waste removal and rubbish collection services. The policy applies to all activities associated with a house clearance & rubbish services business including removal, transport and transfer operations and site work.

Scope and Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure legal compliance, reduce harm and demonstrate an organised approach to health and safety management across our rubbish removal service area. It covers operational planning, risk assessments, training, provision of personal protective equipment (PPE), vehicle safety, hazardous material handling, environmental considerations and emergency response procedures. This policy is a living document and will be reviewed regularly to reflect changes in legislation, operational practice and lessons learned from incidents.

Operatives handling items carefully during waste removal

Responsibilities

Management will: establish and maintain safe systems of work; allocate competent resources; ensure risk assessments are current; and monitor performance. Supervisors will implement controls on site and during collections. Employees and contractors are required to follow instructions, use PPE and report hazards. All staff must take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others affected by their activities.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Before any job, a documented risk assessment will be carried out considering lifting, manual handling, slips and trips, falls from height, vehicle movements, sharps, asbestos suspicion and other hazardous materials. Safe systems of work will be developed and communicated. Where necessary, tasks will be planned with designated personnel and appropriate control measures such as exclusion zones, spotters and mechanical aids will be used. The aim is to control risks to as low as reasonably practicable consistent with industry standards for a waste removal service area.

Supervisor conducting a site safety briefing at a clearance

PPE, Training and Competency

Personal protective equipment (including high-visibility clothing, gloves, safety boots, eye protection and respiratory protection where required) will be supplied and maintained. Training will cover manual handling, hazardous waste awareness, safe vehicle operation, vehicle loading and unloading, fire safety and first aid. Competency checks and refresher training are mandatory. Employees will be briefed on site-specific risks prior to starting work and supervision will be in place for new or inexperienced staff.

Vehicle and Site Operations

Vehicles and plant are essential to our rubbish collection service area. The company will ensure pre-use checks, routine maintenance and safe loading practices are observed. Vehicle routes will be planned to minimise risks to road users and the public. On-site work will adopt segregation of vehicles and pedestrians where feasible. Controls include:

Pre-shift vehicle safety checks and defect reporting
Safe loading limits and securement of waste
Use of banksmen/spotters when reversing
Clear communication and signage for working zones

Hazardous Waste and Environmental Controls

Handling of hazardous items (asbestos, chemicals, sharps, solvents, batteries and electronic waste) will follow legal requirements for classification, segregation, packaging and documentation. Duty of care for waste transfer notes and correct disposal routes is mandatory. Recycling and reuse will be promoted to reduce landfill, and waste will be managed to prevent pollution, spills and cross-contamination in the wider waste removal service area.

Vehicle and equipment prepared for secure rubbish transport

Incident Reporting, First Aid and Emergency Response

All accidents, near misses and environmental incidents must be reported immediately and recorded. First aid equipment and trained first aiders will be available at operational sites and on vehicles as appropriate. Emergency procedures, including spill response and fire evacuation, will be established and rehearsed. Investigations will identify root causes and corrective actions to prevent recurrence, with lessons shared across the company.

Crew performing safe stacking and loading during house clearance

Monitoring, Review and Policy Governance

This policy will be reviewed at least annually and after significant incidents or changes in operations. Performance will be monitored through inspections, audits, incident trends and compliance checks. Records of training, risk assessments, vehicle checks, maintenance, waste transfer documentation and incident reports will be retained in line with regulatory requirements. The company is committed to continuous improvement and will allocate resources necessary to maintain safe operations across the waste removal service area and to ensure that the policy remains effective and legally compliant.

Conclusion: Hounslow House Clearance is committed to a proactive health and safety culture that protects people and the environment while delivering efficient house clearance and rubbish removal services. All staff and contractors are expected to embrace this policy and contribute to a safe, compliant workplace.