Health and Safety Policy — Newham House Clearance

Newham House Clearance is committed to maintaining a high standard of health, safety and welfare for all employees, contractors and members of the public affected by our house clearance and rubbish removal operations. This policy sets out the responsibilities, procedures and safe working practices that govern our domestic clearance, commercial waste clearance and general rubbish collection services. The aim is to prevent injury, ill health and environmental harm while delivering efficient waste clearance and removal services.

Our core obligations include risk assessment, training, safe systems of work and provision of appropriate equipment. Every member of staff engaged in house clearance, waste removal or rubbish clearance must understand their role and responsibilities. The business will ensure that employees receive suitable induction, ongoing training and supervision, and that competencies are reviewed regularly to reflect evolving service demands.

The company will carry out and record detailed risk assessments before work begins on any property or site, including assessments for manual handling, vehicle loading, slips and trips, hazardous materials and sharps. Control measures identified by those assessments will be implemented and monitored, and the assessments will be reviewed when conditions change or following any incident.

Safe Working Practices and Personal Protective Equipment

All staff engaged in our house clearance services must wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, safety boots, high-visibility clothing and eye protection when required. For tasks involving dust, mould or potential hazardous substances, suitable respiratory protection will be provided. PPE is a last line of defence; where practical, risks will be eliminated or controlled through safer systems and equipment.

Manual handling procedures are a key part of our rubbish removal protocol. Staff will use mechanical aids, trolleys and team lifting techniques to reduce musculoskeletal injury. Loads will be assessed for weight and stability and safe lifting methods enforced. Where an item cannot be moved safely, staff will not attempt to lift it and will instead escalate to a manager for an alternative plan.

Vehicles used for waste clearance are maintained to a high standard. Drivers and loaders must ensure loads are secured, not overloaded and covered when appropriate to prevent spillage. Vehicle checks, maintenance logs and operator training form part of our transport safety management for waste collection and clearance services.

Hazardous Materials, Waste Segregation and Environmental Controls

Some house clearance tasks encounter hazardous materials such as batteries, asbestos-containing materials, chemicals or sharps. Staff must follow clear procedures for segregation, safe handling and reporting. Hazardous waste will be identified and handled in accordance with legal requirements and transferred only to licensed carriers and treatment facilities when necessary. The policy emphasises correct waste classification, labelling and secure containment.

Our rubbish clearance teams practice waste minimisation and segregation on site, keeping recyclable and non-recyclable streams separate to support sustainable disposal. Spill kits, containment measures and immediate reporting protocols ensure any accidental release of contaminants is controlled promptly to protect workers and the environment.

The company maintains an incident reporting and investigation system. Any injury, near miss or environmental incident linked to house clearance, junk removal or waste removal activities must be reported immediately. Investigations identify root causes and lead to corrective actions, training updates or changes to safe systems to prevent recurrence.

Management commitment underpins this policy. Senior staff take responsibility for ensuring resources, training and oversight are available so that rubbish removal, waste clearance and domestic clearance operations are carried out safely. Responsibilities are allocated clearly: managers oversee risk management and compliance, supervisors ensure daily safe practices, and employees follow instructions and report hazards.

Key elements of the policy include:

• Risk assessment and control — systematic identification and mitigation of hazards before work commences.
• Training and competence — ensuring staff are trained in manual handling, hazardous waste awareness and vehicle safety.
• Provision and use of PPE — correct, maintained and suitable protective equipment for each task.
• Incident reporting — prompt reporting, investigation and corrective action for accidents and near misses.
• Maintenance of tools and vehicles to ensure safe, reliable equipment for rubbish and waste removal.

All personnel are required to cooperate with safety instructions and to suggest improvements. This policy will be reviewed at regular intervals and whenever there are significant changes to our house clearance operations or applicable safety standards. By working together, we ensure our clearance services remain safe, compliant and professional.