House Clearance Camberley is committed to maintaining the highest standards of health and safety across all waste removal and rubbish clearance operations. This Health and Safety Policy sets out the responsibilities, procedures and controls that govern our house clearing and rubbish collection services across the service area. The purpose of this policy is to protect staff, clients, members of the public and the environment by preventing accidents, managing risks and ensuring legal and regulatory compliance. All personnel and subcontractors must read and follow this policy as an indispensable part of their duties.

Health & Safety Policy Statement

The company will provide a safe working environment for house clearance and rubbish removal activities. We will take all reasonably practicable steps to eliminate hazards, reduce risks and promote safe practices. Our objectives include: preventing workplace injuries and occupational ill health; ensuring safe handling and lawful disposal of waste; and delivering a sustainable, professional house clearance and waste collection service. Compliance with relevant health, safety and environmental legislation is mandatory and will be supported by documented procedures and regular review.

Risk assessment is central to our approach. For each clearance assignment the site-specific hazards will be identified and controlled before work begins. Assessments will cover manual handling hazards, exposure to dust, sharps, asbestos-suspect materials, chemical and biological contaminants, slips and trips, working at height and vehicle movements. Controls include appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE), mechanical aids, segregation of hazardous items, and limiting access to work zones. The rubbish company will ensure that written risk assessments are available to staff and updated when conditions change.

Operational Safety and Procedures

Operational procedures are designed to support safe house clearance, junk removal and waste collection across domestic and commercial sites. Key practices include:

• Permit-by-task and site briefings prior to starting work to communicate hazards and controls.
• Manual handling protocols and the use of trolleys, lifting equipment and two-person lifts where needed.
• Segregation and labelling of waste streams to ensure compliant disposal and recycling; hazardous items are handled by trained personnel and disposed of via authorised channels.
• Vehicle loading controls, secure fastening of loads and safe transit procedures for rubbish removal vehicles.
• Use of suitable PPE including gloves, hi-vis clothing, eye protection and respiratory protection where risk assessments indicate.

Training and competency are mandatory. All operatives receive induction training covering safe working methods for house clearance services, manual handling, COSHH awareness where chemicals are encountered, and safe use of tools and plant. Ongoing refresher training, toolbox talks and competency checks will be scheduled in line with operational risk and regulatory requirements. Supervisors will ensure that inexperienced staff are supervised until competent.

Incident, Near-Miss Reporting and Investigation

The waste clearance team must report all incidents, near misses and unsafe conditions promptly. An incident reporting procedure will be maintained to ensure thorough investigation, root-cause analysis and implementation of corrective actions. Records of accidents and investigations will be kept in line with statutory retention periods. Lessons learned will feed into risk assessments and training programmes to prevent recurrence. Prompt reporting helps protect our workers and improves service reliability.

Control of hazardous materials encountered during house clearance is essential. Where asbestos-containing materials or chemical containers are suspected, work will stop and the item will be treated as hazardous until assessed by a competent person. We will not accept responsibility for removing untreated asbestos without specialist contractors, and we have procedures to direct such materials to authorised hazardous waste handlers. Employees are instructed to follow strict handling and segregation protocols to minimise exposure and environmental impact.

Vehicle, traffic management and site security measures reduce the risk of collisions and injuries. Drivers and loaders are trained in safe loading practices, vehicle checks and securement of waste loads. When working on roads or busy properties, traffic management plans and appropriate signage will be used to protect operatives and the public. Regular maintenance and pre-shift vehicle inspections are documented to ensure roadworthiness and the safe operation of waste collection vehicles.

Emergency preparedness includes first aid provision, clear emergency contact processes, and evacuation procedures for properties where fire or hazardous conditions emerge. First aid kits and trained first-aiders will be available on suitable jobs, and staff are trained to call emergency services when required. Fire safety practices for stored waste, fuel and flammable items include segregation, safe storage and avoidance of hot works without permit controls.

Environmental protection and waste compliance are integral. The policy reinforces legal duty to ensure that all rubbish removed is transported and disposed of responsibly, prioritising reuse and recycling. Documentation for waste transfer will be maintained for traceability and audit. Spill prevention and containment measures are in place for liquid wastes and equipment fluids, and pollution prevention is included in site risk assessments.

Management responsibilities include resourcing, monitoring and reviewing this policy. Senior management will ensure adequate training, equipment and budget for health and safety. Regular site inspections, audits and performance reviews will drive continuous improvement. Safety performance metrics and near-miss trends will be reported to leadership and used to guide corrective actions.

All employees, contractors and those working on behalf of the company are expected to cooperate with this policy. Failure to adhere to documented health and safety procedures may result in disciplinary action. This policy will be reviewed at least annually and updated following significant incidents, changes in legislation or operational practice.