Health and Safety Policy — Clapham House Clearance
Clapham House Clearance maintains a clear and enforceable Health and Safety policy that applies to all house clearance and rubbish removal activities. This document sets out the responsibilities, safe working practices, and control measures required to protect employees, contractors, visitors and the public while delivering professional rubbish company and waste removal services. The purpose of this policy is to minimise accidents, prevent ill health and ensure legal compliance with current health and safety obligations for any house clearance work we undertake.
Our policy covers the full scope of our rubbish collection service and waste management operations. Key responsibilities are allocated as follows: senior management will provide leadership and resources; supervisors will ensure safe systems of work are followed; and every employee must take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others. We promote a culture of reporting, continuous improvement and adherence to safe working procedures for all house clearance services.
The following practical control measures and safe working practices are implemented across the rubbish clearance and waste removal process:
- Systematic risk assessments for each task and site visit
- Appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and manual handling aids
- Clear segregation, labelling and secure containment of waste materials
Operational Controls and Safe Systems
Risk assessments are carried out before all significant activities and are reviewed when conditions change. For every house clearance or bulky rubbish collection we identify hazards such as slips, trips, falls, manual handling injuries, sharp items, asbestos risk indicators and potential chemical exposure. Mitigations include task-specific method statements, use of mechanical aids for lifting and transport, and exclusion zones to protect third parties during clearance operations.
Personal protective equipment is mandatory where assessments indicate a risk: gloves, high-visibility clothing, safety boots and eye protection are standard. Training covers safe use of PPE, manual handling techniques, operation of trolleys and hoists, and safe loading and unloading of vehicles. We also ensure that drivers and crew understand vehicle load restraints and the requirements for transporting waste securely and legally on public roads.
Hazardous materials discovered during a clearance — for example batteries, solvents, asbestos-containing materials or sharps — are isolated and managed in accordance with legal waste handling procedures. We use licensed waste carriers and approved transfer facilities for disposal, and segregate recyclable materials to reduce the environmental impact of our rubbish clearance services.
Training, Monitoring and Review
Emergency procedures are in place for first aid, spillage response and fire safety at all operational locations. Staff receive induction training and regular updates on health and safety topics relevant to the rubbish clearance company sector. We maintain records of training, risk assessments and incident investigations to support continuous learning and improvement.
Contractors and subcontractors engaged to support clearing operations are required to demonstrate competence and to work to our health and safety standards. We carry out contractor vetting, ensure appropriate insurance cover, and monitor performance. Routine site inspections and scheduled audits are conducted to verify compliance and identify opportunities to enhance safety during waste removal and house clearance work.
Record keeping and reporting are essential parts of this policy. All accidents, near misses and unsafe conditions must be reported promptly and investigated so that corrective actions are implemented. Management reviews the effectiveness of the health and safety policy at planned intervals to ensure it remains appropriate to the scale and nature of our rubbish removal and clearance services. This policy establishes our ongoing commitment to the safety of people, protection of property and responsible environmental stewardship in all operations.
Policy implementation: This policy is issued and endorsed by senior management and is available to all employees and relevant stakeholders. It will be revised as necessary to reflect changes in legislation, industry best practice and operational experience. All staff are expected to cooperate with and uphold the standards and procedures described to ensure a safe, lawful and professional house clearance and waste removal service.