Finchley House Clearance - Health & Safety Policy

Finchley House Clearance maintains this Health and Safety Policy to ensure safe operation across all house clearance, rubbish removal and waste disposal activities. The policy applies to every worker, contractor and visitor involved in our domestic and commercial clearance services. Our objective is to provide a safe working environment for staff engaged in rubbish collection, waste removal and general junk removal, while protecting members of the public and property.

Policy Statement

We commit to comply with all relevant health and safety obligations and to adopt good practice in the waste removal and rubbish clearance sectors. Our management team is accountable for implementing procedures that reduce risk during clearance tasks, including manual handling, removal of bulky items, secure loading of vehicles and correct sorting for reuse, recycling and safe disposal. Safety is central to our operations, and this document outlines responsibilities, processes and continuous improvement measures for our house clearance business.

The core aims of this policy include:

• Preventing injury and ill health to our employees and anyone affected by our rubbish collection, clearance and waste management activities.
• Identifying, assessing and controlling risks associated with house clearances, hazardous materials, sharps, asbestos-suspect items and electrical goods.
• Ensuring correct waste segregation, lawful transport and appropriate disposal in line with environmental best practice.

Organisation and Responsibilities

Management will ensure adequate resources are allocated to implement this policy. Supervisors and team leaders must carry out pre-job risk assessments and document safe systems of work for each clearance. Employees are required to follow instructions, use provided personal protective equipment (PPE) and report hazards immediately. Contractors engaged for specialist waste removal will be assessed for competence and compliance with relevant waste carrier obligations.

All staff will receive appropriate training for their roles. Training topics include manual handling techniques, correct use of lifting aids, safe operation of clearance vehicles, identification and handling of potentially hazardous waste and basic fire safety. Training will be recorded and refreshed periodically. New employees and temporary operatives will not be deployed on jobs until they have been adequately briefed.

Risk assessments will be documented for house clearance jobs and rubbish removal tasks. Those assessments will identify control measures such as two-person lifts for heavy items, use of trolleys and harnesses for awkward loads, and requirement to isolate electrical items when necessary. Control measures will be reviewed when there is a change to the scope of work or following a near miss or incident.

Vehicles and equipment used for rubbish collection and waste transport must be maintained to a safe standard. Regular inspections, safe loading limits and secure fastening of loads are mandatory to avoid roadside hazards. Plant and tools will be inspected, and defective items removed from service until repaired. Drivers will follow safe driving standards and adhere to load weight and waste carrier regulations.

Hazardous waste handling is a priority. Items suspected of containing asbestos, batteries, chemicals or medical waste will be treated as hazardous until confirmed otherwise. We will not accept or transport hazardous materials outside of agreed specialist arrangements. Where hazardous disposal is required, licensed contractors will be instructed and documentation retained to demonstrate lawful transfer and disposal.

Emergency procedures are in place for accidents, spillages and other incidents. All employees must know how to summon assistance, how to apply first aid, and the location of first aid kits and fire extinguishers. Incidents and near misses will be reported and investigated to identify root causes and prevent recurrence. Records of incidents, training, risk assessments and vehicle checks will be retained for audit and compliance purposes.

Monitoring and review form a regular part of our safety management. We will carry out periodic audits of clearance operations, consult employees on safety matters and update procedures when necessary. Performance indicators such as incident rates, audit findings and training completion will be used to measure effectiveness of our health and safety arrangements.

We expect all employees to contribute actively to a safe workplace. This includes reporting unsafe conditions, cooperating with investigations and participating in continuous improvement. Finchley House Clearance will not compromise safety for productivity; risks must be controlled before work proceeds. Supervisors have the authority to stop work if conditions are unsafe.

This policy will be reviewed at least annually or following significant change to how we provide house clearance or rubbish clearance services. The review will consider regulatory updates, operational experience and opportunities to improve the safety and environmental performance of our waste removal service. Signed on behalf of the company and published as the controlling statement of health and safety intent for all personnel.