Health and Safety Policy — Crouch End House Clearance

Purpose: This Health and Safety policy sets out the principles and arrangements that govern safe working at Crouch End House Clearance. It applies across our rubbish collection service area and to any work undertaken on behalf of the company, whether at private homes, communal blocks or temporary sites. The policy is designed to protect staff, contractors, clients and the public and to promote consistent safe practice by our clearance and waste removal teams.

Scope and Service Coverage

Our duties apply to all operations carried out within the broader rubbish removal service area that Crouch End House Clearance serves. This includes house clearances, estate clearouts, garden waste removal and bulky item collections. The policy addresses hazards common to rubbish management and the specific risks encountered when clearing properties, handling mixed waste, and transporting materials in company vehicles. We aim to maintain safe standards across the full waste removal service area and to ensure compliance with relevant regulatory expectations.

Responsibilities and Organisation

Line managers retain overall responsibility for implementing this policy in their teams. All employees must follow the measures set out here and report hazards. Contractors engaged for specialist tasks must demonstrate proof of their own safety management and insurance before work begins. Key responsibilities include:

• Management: ensure risk assessments, training and PPE are provided and reviewed;
• Supervisors: enforce safe systems of work and monitor staff performance;
• Employees: follow safe methods, use equipment properly and report incidents promptly.

Training and Competence: We deliver regular induction and refresher training covering manual handling, hazardous materials awareness, sharps and clinical waste procedures, vehicle safety, and customer-site etiquette. Staff competence is recorded and reviewed; anyone working within the rubbish company coverage area must be competent for the tasks they perform.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems: Risk assessments are carried out for typical activities and for specific jobs where hazards differ. Assessments consider structural risks, contaminated waste, asbestos suspicion, pest infestation and sharps. Safe systems of work are developed from these assessments and include, where relevant:

• Site access control and vehicle positioning;
• Manual handling plans and use of lifting aids;
• Segregation of recyclable and non-recyclable materials;
• Controls for hazardous household chemicals and electrical items.

Appropriate signage and exclusion of the public from active clearance zones are routine controls. When asbestos or suspected asbestos-containing material is encountered, work stops and a qualified assessor is contacted in line with regulatory expectations for safe disposal.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): The company supplies and enforces use of PPE including gloves, high-visibility clothing, eye protection and safety boots. Respiratory protective equipment is issued when required by risk assessment. PPE is maintained, replaced when necessary and its use is audited during site supervision.

Vehicle safety is integral: all vehicles used in the rubbish and waste collection service are inspected daily, load-secured, and maintained to a documented schedule. Drivers follow a vehicle safety checklist before departure and report defects immediately.

Incident Reporting and Emergency Procedures: All accidents, near misses and dangerous occurrences are reported through our incident reporting system. Investigations identify root causes and corrective actions. First aid arrangements are provided, and staff are trained to summon emergency services where needed. Fire safety procedures and spill control plans are included in site briefings.

Contractors and Subcontracting: Subcontractors operating within our service area must comply with this policy and provide evidence of suitable risk assessments, method statements and insurance. The company retains the right to audit subcontractor safety performance and to suspend work where standards are unacceptable.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement: Safety performance is monitored through audits, toolbox talks and scheduled site inspections. Key performance indicators include incident frequency, completion of training, vehicle defect resolution times and compliance with waste segregation standards. The policy is reviewed annually or after significant incidents or legislative changes.

Commitment: Crouch End House Clearance is committed to ensuring that health and safety considerations are integral to our operational decision-making across the rubbish collection and removal service area. Through clear responsibilities, documented risk control measures, and ongoing review, we aim to provide a safe working environment for staff and a reliable, compliant rubbish collection service for our clients.