Health and Safety Policy for House Clearance Teddington
House Clearance Teddington operates a robust Health and Safety policy designed to protect employees, clients, and the public while delivering efficient house clearance and rubbish removal services across our service area. This policy applies to all clearance activities, including domestic home clearance, estate cleanouts and general waste removal conducted by the rubbish company in the service area. It outlines responsibilities, hazard controls, and the standards we maintain to ensure safe, lawful operations.
Our commitment is to meet or exceed statutory obligations and industry best practices. We adopt a risk-based approach that identifies hazards early, implements control measures and monitors effectiveness. Key elements include a formal risk assessment procedure, documented safe systems of work, and an emphasis on training and competency so that every member of the house clearance team understands how to perform tasks safely and responsibly.
A formal reporting and incident management process ensures that accidents, near-misses and unsafe conditions are recorded, investigated and used to prevent recurrence. We maintain clear records for equipment maintenance, vehicle checks and waste transfer documentation where applicable. The policy also prioritises environmental controls to limit contamination and ensure that waste handling and disposal support sustainable practices within the rubbish removal and clearance services we provide.
Responsibilities are allocated at all organisational levels. Senior management retains ultimate accountability for the health and safety management system, while supervisors and crew leaders are responsible for day-to-day implementation, including toolbox talks and compliance checks at job start. Individual employees must follow safe working procedures, use required personal protective equipment (PPE) and report hazards promptly. Everyone on site shares a duty to stop work if an unsafe situation arises.
Training and competence are fundamental. All operatives undergo induction training covering manual handling, hazardous materials awareness, sharps and asbestos precautions, traffic and pedestrian safety during remove-and-clear operations, and vehicle loading safety for rubbish lorries. Refresher sessions are scheduled regularly and training records are maintained to demonstrate competency across the team. We also provide specific instruction for dealing with bulky waste, electrical items and items requiring special disposal.
Control measures used by the house clearance services include:
- Risk assessments before each job to tailor controls to the environment;
- PPE such as gloves, high-visibility clothing, protective footwear and eye protection;
- Safe manual handling techniques and mechanical aids where practicable;
- Segregation of hazardous waste and use of approved containers;
- Traffic management when working near roads or in shared spaces.
Emergency preparedness and first response arrangements are maintained at every worksite. Crews carry first-aid kits, have access to emergency contact protocols and are trained in basic first aid relevant to on-site incidents. Where teams encounter potential hazardous substances or suspected asbestos-containing materials, works are stopped and specialist advice is obtained prior to any further handling, in line with regulatory expectations and safe waste removal practices.
The policy emphasises equipment and vehicle safety. Routine inspections, maintenance schedules and pre-shift checks are mandatory for all tools and vehicles used in house clearance operations. Lifting equipment, trolleys and hoists are inspected and defects are remedied before use. Vehicle loading is conducted to prevent shifting loads and to comply with transport safety standards, reducing the risk of accidents during rubbish collection and transit throughout the service area.
Monitoring, review and continual improvement underpin our approach. Performance indicators such as incident rates, near-miss reports and audit results are reviewed regularly. We undertake periodic policy reviews and stakeholder consultations to ensure our health and safety standards reflect evolving legislation and practical experience. This policy is a living document: it is updated when processes, law or technology change, always aiming to deliver safe, reliable house clearance and waste removal services.
Key Principles
Prevention through risk assessment and control, protection through appropriate PPE and segregation of hazards, and participation by involving staff in safety decisions are the guiding principles of our policy. The rubbish company service area is covered by these principles to ensure consistent standards across jobs.
Commitment
We commit to providing the necessary resources for effective implementation of this policy, promoting a culture where health and safety are integral to every clearance operation. By aligning management, workforce and operational practices, House Clearance Teddington strives to deliver safe, compliant and efficient clearance services while minimising harm to people and the environment.
Signed: Management Team — Date: (policy review dates and version control kept on file for audit and compliance purposes).