Workers preparing for a flat clearance job with PPE and equipment

Health and Safety Policy — Flat Clearance Camden Town

Purpose and scope

This policy sets out the health, safety and environmental standards adopted by our flat clearance and rubbish removal service. It applies to all staff, contractors and sub-contractors engaged in clearance, rubbish collection, waste transfer and related activities. The aim is to reduce harm, protect property, and ensure lawful disposal of materials while delivering reliable flat clearance Camden Town and nearby service area operations.

Team assessing a room during a rubbish clearance operation

Policy statement

We commit to providing a safe working environment by identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing controls. Everyone involved in waste removal and Camden flat clearance activities must follow safe systems of work, use appropriate personal protective equipment, and report hazards. Management will ensure resources, training and supervision are available to meet these objectives.

Responsibilities

Management shall develop and maintain this policy, ensure compliance with relevant legislation and allocate sufficient resources. Supervisors will monitor work practices, enforce controls and maintain records. Employees have a duty to take reasonable care for their own safety and for others who may be affected by their actions during rubbish clearance and waste handling.

Worker using manual handling aids during waste removal

Training and competence

Staff engaged in flat clearance, household rubbish collection and waste removal will be trained in: manual handling, hazardous materials awareness, use of PPE, safe vehicle loading, and emergency procedures. Training will be refreshed periodically and documented. New hires must demonstrate competence before independent deployment.

Personal protective equipment and hygiene

Employees must use appropriate PPE such as gloves, high-visibility clothing, steel-toe boots and eye protection where required. Respiratory protection will be provided for tasks with dust, mold or airborne particles. Strict hygiene standards must be maintained: hands must be washed before eating, and contaminated clothing should be isolated and cleaned.

Risk assessment and control measures

All clearance tasks require a pre-task risk assessment to identify hazards and implement controls. Controls follow the hierarchy: elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative measures and PPE. Typical hazards include manual handling injuries, slips/trips/falls, sharps, asbestos-containing material, biohazards and traffic-related risks during rubbish collection.

Hazardous materials and segregation

Hazardous items must be identified and segregated prior to transport. Where items are suspected to contain asbestos, chemical residues or infectious waste, work will stop and a qualified assessor will be engaged. For general rubbish and household clearance, materials must be separated for recycling, reuse or disposal to licensed facilities in accordance with waste carrier responsibilities.

Operational controls include:

Pre-clearance inspections and documented risk assessments.
Safe manual handling techniques, using mechanical aids where possible.
Clear signage, cordons and traffic management during curbside removal.
Segregation of recyclables, non-recyclables and hazardous wastes.
Secure loading and stable stacking to prevent falls from vehicles.

Vehicles, loading and transport

Vehicles used for flat clearance and rubbish removal will be maintained and inspected regularly. Drivers must ensure loads are safely restrained and comply with weight limits. Delivery of waste to licensed facilities must be documented and waste transfer notes or equivalent records kept as part of compliance with waste duty of care obligations.

Staff logging an incident report after a clearance task

Incident reporting and emergency response

All accidents, near misses or environmental incidents must be reported immediately and recorded. An investigation will identify root causes and corrective actions. Emergency procedures include first aid provision, isolation of hazardous areas and notification of relevant authorities when required. Rehabilitation and support for injured staff will be provided.

Marked waste containers ready for secure transport and disposal

Monitoring, review and legal compliance

This policy will be reviewed at least annually or after significant incidents or operational changes. Regular audits and toolbox talks will ensure continued compliance and improvement. We commit to observing applicable health, safety and environmental laws and to cooperating with inspectors. Records of training, risk assessments, vehicle checks and incident investigations will be maintained to demonstrate due diligence.

Continual improvement and expectations

Everyone involved in flat clearance services, waste collection and removal is expected to contribute to continuous improvement by suggesting safer methods and reporting deficiencies. Management will act on valid suggestions and make necessary adjustments to procedures. Performance indicators such as incident rates, audit results and training completion will be used to measure effectiveness.

Scope of application

This policy covers all activities associated with flat clearance, rubbish collection and waste handling across our service area. It is not a substitute for site-specific safe working procedures; where site-specific risks exist, additional written method statements must be prepared before work begins.

Implementation: The policy is effective from the date of issuance and is the responsibility of senior management to enforce. By following this statement, staff and contractors ensure a safer workplace, lawful disposal of materials and a professional standard for all flat clearance and rubbish removal activities.