Health & Safety Policy — Flat Clearance Thamesmead

This Health and Safety policy sets out the approach taken by our flat clearance operation and rubbish removal teams to manage risk, protect people and comply with statutory duties. It applies to all flat clearance and waste handling activities carried out by staff, contractors and sub-contractors engaged to provide a clearance service in residential and communal properties. The policy is written to support safe rubbish collection and responsible waste management while avoiding unnecessary local detail or specific addresses.

The policy is a statement of intent and responsibility and reflects our commitment to continual improvement. All employees involved in a flat clearance service, including those tasked with transporting and sorting household items and debris, must follow the controls and procedures described below. Managers are accountable for implementation and for ensuring team members receive appropriate information, training and supervision.

Our primary objective is to protect the health and safety of workers, residents and members of the public during any clearance, rubbish removal or waste clearance activity. This includes ensuring machinery and vehicles are safe to use, that manual handling is minimised, and that hazardous items are identified and managed. The organisation recognises that flat clearance operations carry specific hazards including manual handling, sharps and hazardous household waste, restricted access points and potential for slips, trips and falls.

Roles, Responsibilities and Competence

Responsibilities are allocated to ensure safe performance of flat clearance services. Senior management will: maintain a written health and safety policy; provide resources for training and equipment; and review performance. Supervisors will: plan each job, carry out risk assessments, ensure PPE is used and that staff follow safe systems of work. Workers must follow instructions, report hazards and participate in training.

Key competence and training requirements include manual handling instruction, safe use of powered equipment, basic hazardous waste awareness and traffic management for vehicle operations. All operatives will be provided with appropriate personal protective equipment such as gloves, high-visibility clothing and sturdy footwear, and will be trained in its correct use.

Core duties for the clearance team are documented in job briefs and include pre-job checks, verifying access routes, identifying hazardous items (e.g., asbestos-containing materials, sharps, chemical containers), and segregating recyclable materials from general rubbish. Staff will use lifting aids where practical and follow established manual handling methods to reduce the risk of injury.

Risk Assessment, Controls and Safe Systems

Before each flat clearance or rubbish removal operation a dynamic risk assessment will be completed. Controls will be applied in line with the hierarchy of risk management: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls and use of PPE. Examples of controls include:

• Pre-clearance walk-through and identification of restricted spaces and fragile flooring.
• Use of signage and barriers to segregate work areas from occupants and public routes.
• Safe loading practices for vehicles and securement of loose items during transport.
• Procedures for dealing with hazardous household waste and sharps.
• Provision of specialist disposal routes for large or regulated waste streams.

Transportation of waste will comply with waste transfer requirements and vehicle safety checks will be recorded. Local collection points will be used only where appropriate and authorized; otherwise waste will be conveyed to designated facilities using approved containment. Emphasis is placed on safe rubbish removal and minimising manual handling through use of trolleys, hoists or mechanical lifting where available.

Emergency arrangements cover first aid, reporting of incidents and near-misses, and liaison with emergency services. All accidents, injuries and dangerous occurrences must be reported immediately and investigated to prevent recurrence. A documented procedure exists for responding to contaminated items or suspect hazardous substances discovered during clearance.

Monitoring and performance measurement combine routine site inspections, toolbox talks, competence audits and periodic policy reviews. Performance indicators include incident frequency, completion of training, vehicle inspection records and evidence of risk assessments being conducted. Management reviews will identify corrective actions and resource needs to improve safety in the clearance and rubbish collection operations.

All subcontracted partners and temporary workers engaged to provide a flat clearance service must adhere to this policy and provide proof of competence and insurance. Sub-contractors are assessed prior to engagement and monitored during assignments to ensure consistent standards of waste clearance safety, environmental compliance and appropriate rubbish disposal practices.

This policy will be reviewed at least annually and updated following any significant change to operational practice, relevant legislation or after serious incidents. The organisation encourages an open safety culture where employees feel empowered to raise concerns and where practical suggestions for safer rubbish removal and waste handling are considered. By following these principles we aim to deliver a professional, compliant and safe flat clearance operation that protects people, property and the environment.