Health and Safety Policy — Chelsea House Clearance

This Health and Safety policy sets out the commitment of Chelsea House Clearance to protect the health, safety and welfare of employees, contractors and the public while delivering professional rubbish removal and rubbish clearance services across our service area. The approach described here applies to house clearance, waste removal and associated activities carried out by the company. Our aim is to prevent accidents and ill health by identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing appropriate controls for every job.

All staff, subcontractors and temporary workers engaged in rubbish collection or bulky waste removal must work in accordance with this policy. Procedures will be proportionate to the task and reviewed periodically. The policy complements operational safe systems of work, vehicle operating rules and site-specific risk assessments carried out for domestic and commercial clearances.

The management team will ensure that adequate resources are provided to achieve compliance and continual improvement. This includes provision of personal protective equipment (PPE), training, safe vehicles and tools appropriate to the demands of house clearance, garden waste removal, and general rubbish transport. We recognise the unique hazards posed by mixed loads, sharp objects, heavy furniture and potentially hazardous materials during clearance operations.

Risk assessment is central to how Chelsea House Clearance operates. Before any removal work begins a competent person will: identify foreseeable hazards; evaluate the risk to employees and others; determine and implement control measures; and record findings where required. Control measures may include safe lifting techniques, equipment for mechanical handling, segregation of waste types for safe disposal, and exclusion zones to protect members of the public.

Responsibilities

Management

Management must ensure that: suitable and sufficient risk assessments are carried out; staff receive training and supervision; PPE is available and maintained; and that systems for reporting incidents and near misses are active. Managers will monitor performance and take corrective action where necessary to ensure that rubbish company operations do not compromise safety.

Employees and Operatives

Employees are responsible for following safe working practices, using PPE correctly, reporting hazards or incidents immediately and cooperating with investigations. All operatives involved in rubbish clearance and waste removal are required to attend induction training and task-specific briefings.

To support duties, the company provides written safe systems of work for common tasks, including manual handling, working at height when clearing lofts, safe use of tools and securing loads in vehicles. House clearance teams are trained to segregate materials to reduce contamination and to identify items that require specialised disposal, such as batteries, asbestos-containing materials and certain chemical wastes.

Emergency procedures are established to address incidents such as injuries, vehicle collisions, fires and hazardous material discovery. First aid kits and trained first aiders are available during operational hours. Incident reporting ensures lessons are learned and controls are strengthened.

Safe Vehicles and Transport

Vehicles used for rubbish removal and bulky waste clearance are maintained to a high standard and inspected regularly. Drivers must adhere to load securing protocols and ensure that waste is transported in a manner that prevents spillage, odour release, and road risk. Vehicle checks and records form part of the safety management system.

Training, Supervision and Communication

Training programmes are provided to give operatives the skills to work safely across a range of scenarios encountered in a typical service area: from small domestic clearances to larger multi-item removals. Supervisors will conduct toolbox talks and pre-job briefings that address site-specific hazards. Communication channels are maintained so that changes to procedures and new safety information reach everyone promptly.

Health surveillance is available where tasks or exposures justify monitoring. The company promotes a safety culture where concerns are raised without fear of reprisal, and where continuous improvement is part of everyday operations. Rubbish clearance work is only undertaken when it can be done safely.

Monitoring, Review and Legal Compliance

Routine inspections, audits and performance reviews are conducted to measure compliance with this policy. Accidents, near misses and audit findings inform corrective actions. The policy will be reviewed annually or sooner when operations, legislation or circumstances change. Chelsea House Clearance commits to meeting its legal obligations and to applying best practice in waste management and safety for the benefit of staff, clients and the public.

Key Control Measures

• Risk assessment: task-specific assessments before work begins.
• PPE and equipment: appropriate gloves, footwear, high-visibility clothing and mechanical aids.
• Training: induction, refresher and task-based training for all operatives.
• Waste segregation: separating recyclable, hazardous and general waste for safe disposal.
• Incident management: reporting, investigation and learning procedures.

By following this policy, Chelsea House Clearance ensures that rubbish removal, waste disposal and house clearance services are delivered with due regard for safety and environmental responsibility. This statement is endorsed by senior management and forms the basis of our operational health and safety arrangements.

Signed on behalf of the company — review date and further procedural details are maintained internally and available to employees and contractors as required.