Health and Safety Policy for Flat Clearance Fulham

This Health and Safety Policy sets out the commitment of Flat Clearance Fulham to manage health, safety and welfare effectively across all flat clearance and rubbish company activities. It applies to all staff, contractors and persons affected by our flat clearance service and waste removal tasks. The purpose of this policy is to reduce risk to people and property, ensure safe rubbish removal operations, and maintain a compliant and responsible clearance service. Our approach emphasises prevention, training and continuous improvement to deliver a safe rubbish collection and disposal experience.

Scope and responsibilities are clearly assigned. The management team will ensure adequate resources for safe operations, while supervisors are responsible for day-to-day implementation. Employees must follow safe systems of work and report hazards immediately. Key duties include risk assessment, provision of personal protective equipment (PPE), and safe vehicle operation. The policy covers manual handling, segregation of materials, hazardous waste control and customer premises work. All team members are expected to cooperate with safety processes and attend mandatory training.

Risk assessment and controls are central to our rubbish removal procedures. Prior to any flat clearance activity, a suitable and sufficient risk assessment is completed to identify hazards such as sharps, asbestos suspect materials, electrical items, heavy lifting and vehicular movement. Control measures include safe lifting techniques, mechanical aids, cordoning work areas, and ensuring clear routes for rubbish collection. Records of assessments, method statements and toolbox talks are maintained and reviewed periodically to reflect changes in the task, workforce or working environment.

Training, Competency and Personal Protective Equipment

Training is provided to ensure that staff working on a clearance service have the prerequisite skills and understanding to carry out rubbish collection safely. This includes induction training, manual handling instruction, safe use of tools and machinery, chemical hazards awareness and driver's competence checks for vehicles used in waste removal. Ongoing competency assessments and refresher sessions are scheduled, and records kept in personnel files. PPE is supplied and must be worn where required, including gloves, eye protection, high-visibility clothing and suitable footwear.

Handling hazardous or unusual items requires additional care: batteries, solvents, paints, electrical appliances and medical waste are identified, segregated and managed in line with regulatory expectations and safe disposal routes. Where items are believed to contain hazardous materials (e.g. asbestos-containing debris), works are stopped and a specialist assessor engaged. Clear labelling, containment and segregation are standard practice to protect employees, contractors and residents during flat clearance operations.

Vehicle and equipment safety are integral to operations. Vehicles used for rubbish collection and removal are maintained to a safe standard, inspected before use and operated by authorised personnel only. Loading and unloading procedures reduce the risk of slips, trips and falls; secure loading prevents shifting in transit. Fuel handling, charging of batteries and equipment servicing are undertaken with suitable precautions and spill control measures in place.

Incident Management, Monitoring and Continuous Improvement

Incidents, near misses and unsafe conditions must be reported promptly. An incident investigation process identifies root causes and corrective actions, with findings communicated to relevant staff to prevent recurrence. First aid provision and emergency response procedures are maintained for all sites and vehicle operations. Regular safety inspections and audits, including spot checks during clearance service activities, support ongoing monitoring and compliance.

Contractor and subcontractor management ensures that any third party engaged for rubbish removal or clearance services meets our safety standards. Contractors must provide evidence of appropriate training, insurance and method statements before work starts. Subcontracted teams are briefed on site-specific risks and are required to follow the same reporting and permit-to-work protocols used by our own employees. Cooperation and clear communication with contractors reduces risk and supports consistent application of this policy across all tasks.

Environmental controls and waste segregation form part of the safe working standard: recyclable materials are separated from general waste where practicable, and hazardous items are routed to authorised disposal streams. Storage and temporary containment are managed to avoid contamination. This policy will be reviewed annually or sooner in response to legislative change, incident findings or operational adjustments. By maintaining robust systems and encouraging responsible behaviour, Flat Clearance Fulham aims to protect people, property and the environment while delivering an efficient flat clearance and waste removal service.