Kilburn House Clearance - Health and Safety Policy

Purpose: This policy sets out the health and safety framework for Kilburn House Clearance to protect employees, clients and the public during house clearance and rubbish removal operations across our rubbish removal service area. The policy is designed to ensure legal compliance and to promote safe working practices in all aspects of our clearance, collection and disposal activity. All staff, contractors and temporary operatives must comply with these commitments.

Scope: The policy applies to every activity carried out by Kilburn House Clearance within the rubbish clearance service area, including domestic clear-outs, flat and loft clearances, communal waste removal and vehicle transport of materials. It covers planning, risk assessment, manual handling, use of powered equipment, vehicle loading and unloading, segregation of waste streams and interactions with members of the public. The policy is a legal page statement of organisational intent rather than an operational guide.

Responsibilities and Management Commitment

Management will allocate resources and ensure that competent personnel are responsible for implementing this policy. Managers are required to carry out and record risk assessments, appoint suitably trained supervisors and maintain a system of checks for compliance across the rubbish collection area. Employees have a duty to follow safe systems of work, report hazards and cooperate with investigations. Contractors engaged for specialist tasks must demonstrate equivalent safety arrangements.

Risk assessment and hazard control: The organisation will identify hazards, assess associated risks and implement controls following the hierarchy of control. Key identified hazards include:

• Manual handling and lifting of bulky items
• Sharp objects, broken glass and contaminated waste
• Vehicle and plant movement during collections
• Hazardous substances such as batteries, solvents and asbestos-contaminated materials

Training, Competence and Personal Protective Equipment

Kilburn House Clearance will provide induction and ongoing training appropriate to roles, covering safe lifting techniques, correct use of PPE, traffic management during collections and waste segregation procedures. Staff competence will be assessed regularly and recorded. Personal Protective Equipment including gloves, protective footwear, high-visibility clothing and eye protection will be supplied where required and maintained in a serviceable condition.

Employees are expected to use the issued PPE at all times when performing tasks in the rubbish company service area. Supervisors will monitor adherence and address non-compliance promptly. Training records and certificates will be retained as part of the company’s safety management records.

Plant and vehicle safety measures will include regular maintenance, secure loading methods, daily vehicle checks and clear segregation of the waste load to prevent shifting during transit. Safe access to properties, use of ramps or mechanical aids and traffic control where necessary are essential controls to protect operatives and the public.

Hazardous Waste and Special Precautions: When hazardous items are encountered during a house clearance — such as asbestos suspect materials, unidentified chemical containers, syringes or contaminated soil — work will stop and the item will be isolated. Only suitably trained staff or authorised contractors will handle, package and dispose of hazardous waste in line with legal requirements. The company will maintain permits and consignment notes where required and will not accept responsibility for illegal disposal practices.

Incident reporting and investigation: All accidents, work-related illnesses, near misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported promptly and recorded. Investigations will identify root causes and corrective actions to prevent recurrence. Records will be retained and reviewed for trends affecting operational safety across the rubbish collection service area. Employees are encouraged to report hazards without fear of reprisal.

Monitoring, audit and continuous improvement: The safety management system will include routine inspections, audits and performance metrics. Management will review this policy at least annually and whenever there is a significant change in work methods, legislation or following a serious incident. The aim is to achieve continuous improvement in safety performance and to ensure the policy remains appropriate to the scale of operations.

Emergency procedures and first aid: Emergency arrangements will be in place for incidents arising from house and rubbish clearances, including first-aid provision, access for emergency services and evacuation procedures where required. Designated first-aiders and suitably stocked first-aid kits will be available at primary work locations and in vehicles.

Record keeping will include training logs, vehicle maintenance records, risk assessments, incident reports and waste transfer documentation. These records support legal compliance and inform continuous improvement. The company will ensure that all documentation is accessible to those who need it and retained in accordance with regulatory requirements.

Policy acceptance: This Health and Safety Policy is endorsed by Kilburn House Clearance senior management and represents the company’s commitment to safety across its house clearance and rubbish collection operations. All personnel are required to read, understand and comply with this policy. Failure to adhere may result in disciplinary action where appropriate. The policy is intended to protect people, property and the environment while supporting efficient and responsible rubbish removal activities in the service area.