Health & Safety Policy — Hammersmith House Clearance

Hammersmith House Clearance operates a comprehensive Health and Safety Policy applicable to all aspects of our house clearance and rubbish removal operations. This policy sets out the company's commitment to provide a safe working environment for employees, contractors and the public, and to deliver a reliable rubbish company service area that manages waste removal, waste clearance and clearance projects with professional care. The policy is designed to be clear, practical and enforceable in day-to-day rubbish collection and disposal activities.

Scope and Objectives

Our objectives are to prevent accidents, reduce health risks, protect the environment and ensure legal compliance across every job. The policy applies to all staff engaged in house clearance, waste removal and bulky rubbish collection, together with any subcontractors working on behalf of the clearance company. We maintain procedures for risk assessment, rubbish removal planning, manual handling, vehicle safety and the correct segregation of recyclable material and hazardous waste.

Key Responsibilities

Everyone in the business has a role in safety. Responsibilities include:

• Management: Establish safe systems of work, provide resources, and ensure training and supervision.
• Supervisors: Implement method statements, conduct toolbox talks, and monitor compliance on site.
• Operatives: Follow instructions, use PPE, report hazards and participate in training.

Risk assessment lies at the core of our approach. Before any clearance or rubbish removal task begins, a site-specific assessment is carried out to identify physical hazards, manual handling risks, contamination risks and any structural concerns. Method statements are prepared for complex or high-risk clearances, and safe systems of work are communicated to teams to reduce the likelihood of incidents during waste clearance and removal projects.

Training and competence are central to safe operations. Our induction programme covers the safe use of lifting equipment, safe lifting techniques, hazardous material awareness and vehicle loading rules. We run refreshed training sessions at regular intervals, deliver on-the-job supervision and maintain records to demonstrate that our workforce is competent to perform rubbish collection, bulky waste handling and domestic or commercial house clearance tasks safely.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) and tools are provided and maintained to industry standards. Staff are required to wear appropriate PPE for each task, including gloves, eye protection, hi-vis clothing and protective footwear. Equipment checks and maintenance schedules are in place for trolleys, sack trucks and powered equipment used in waste removal and clearance operations.

Handling of hazardous or controlled waste is managed through clear procedures. Where materials such as asbestos-containing debris, contaminated items or sharps are encountered, work is stopped and specialist removal is arranged. We maintain segregation protocols and use licensed disposal routes for prohibited items. Our rubbish company service area policy ensures that hazardous streams are tracked, documented and removed only by approved carriers and disposal sites.

Vehicles used for house clearance and waste collection are subject to daily checks, secure loading procedures and safe driving practices. Drivers receive training in load restraint, route planning to reduce risk and compliance with vehicle safety standards. Transport of waste adheres to duty of care principles, with documentation retained to demonstrate responsible handling and lawful disposal.

Emergency procedures and incident reporting are defined and tested. First aid arrangements, fire response plans and spill control measures are in place for all operations. All incidents, near misses and hazardous findings are recorded, investigated and used to improve processes so that learning reduces the chance of recurrence during future rubbish removal or clearance activities.

We operate a programme of inspection, audit and performance monitoring to ensure the continued effectiveness of our health and safety management. Regular site inspections, vehicle audits and monthly management reviews are used to identify opportunities for improvement. Corrective actions are tracked and closed out to maintain high standards of safety and environmental stewardship in our waste clearance and rubbish collection services.

Insurance, contractor vetting and supplier controls form part of our risk mitigation. All subcontractors engaged to assist with house clearance works are required to demonstrate appropriate insurance cover, competence and safety arrangements. We verify qualifications and ensure that third parties working on our behalf meet the same standards expected of the clearance company.

Policy review and commitment: This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed periodically and whenever there is a change in operations, legislation or following a significant incident. The senior management team is committed to continual improvement of safety performance and to the allocation of resources necessary to support safe rubbish removal, waste clearance and house clearance services. By embedding a safety-first culture, maintaining clear procedures and ensuring accountability at every level, Hammersmith House Clearance aims to protect people, property and the wider environment while delivering a professional and reliable rubbish removal service.