Westham House Clearance Health and Safety Policy

This Health and Safety policy sets out the approach of Westham House Clearance to managing risks associated with house clearance, waste removal and rubbish collection services. The policy applies to all employees, contractors and temporary staff working on behalf of the company. It is intended to ensure that our rubbish company operations are carried out in a way that protects the health and safety of workers, clients and the public while promoting environmental compliance during waste clearance projects.

The company recognises its legal and moral responsibilities and will provide the resources necessary to implement this policy. Responsibilities include ensuring adequate training, personal protective equipment (PPE), safe systems of work and effective supervision. Risk assessments will be carried out for all clearance jobs, including bulky waste removal, hazardous materials handling and vehicle-based transfers, and control measures will be documented and reviewed.

All staff must follow safe working procedures for rubbish removal, junk disposal and household waste clearance. This includes correct manual handling techniques, use of mechanical aids, securing loads on vehicles and segregation of recyclable and hazardous items. The company will maintain up-to-date procedures for the segregation, storage and lawful disposal of special wastes such as asbestos-containing materials, solvents, batteries and electrical items.

Duty Holders and Organisation

Management at Westham House Clearance holds ultimate responsibility for implementing this policy, but safety is a shared duty. Supervisors are responsible for ensuring site-level compliance and for communicating risks to teams. Employees are required to take reasonable care for their own safety, to use PPE provided and to report hazards or near misses promptly. Contractors and sub-contractors must operate in accordance with our standards and provide evidence of competence where required.

Training forms a core component of our safety programme. Regular induction training covers rubbish company site rules, vehicle operation, manual handling and first aid. Job-specific instruction will be provided for activities such as hazardous waste handling, containerised waste management and the use of powered equipment. Refresher training and toolbox talks are scheduled to maintain awareness and competency.

Safety equipment and PPE will be provided and maintained in line with risk assessments. Items include gloves, high-visibility clothing, safety footwear, eye protection and respirators when appropriate. Vehicle checks, secure load restraints and maintenance records are part of our vehicle safety regime to minimise risks during transit and collection rounds.

Risk Assessment and Control Measures

Before work begins on any property clearance or waste disposal assignment, a documented risk assessment will be completed. Assessments consider trip and fall hazards, unstable structures, sharps, biological hazards (including mould and bodily fluids), and fire risk. Control measures, including exclusion zones, signage and client briefings, will be implemented to reduce exposure to acceptable levels.

Specific measures for waste clearance operations include:

• Identification and safe segregation of hazardous waste;
• Use of appropriate containers and signage for chemical or biological materials;
• Implementation of traffic and pedestrian management on sites where vehicle movements occur.

These controls are reviewed after incidents, near misses or when process changes occur.

Emergency arrangements are in place, including access to first aid, incident reporting procedures and escalation to emergency services if required. The company will maintain and test emergency response protocols and provide clear instructions to staff on how to respond to accidents and environmental spills.

Monitoring and performance review will be conducted through regular audits, site inspections and safety meetings. Key performance indicators include incident and near-miss rates, completion of required training, audit findings and compliance with waste transfer documentation. Continuous improvement is supported by corrective actions and lessons learned being shared across teams.

Subcontractor management is critical to safe rubbish removal services. The company will pre-qualify subcontractors, verify insurance and health and safety policies, and monitor performance. Work by third parties will be coordinated to ensure compatibility with our safety systems and to prevent overlapping risks during property clearance jobs.

This policy will be reviewed annually or when significant changes in operations, legislation or technology occur. It is communicated to all staff and is available to relevant stakeholders on request. By maintaining robust health and safety practices, Westham House Clearance aims to deliver reliable, compliant and safe waste clearance and rubbish collection services that protect people and the environment.