Health and Safety Policy — Highgate House Clearance

Highgate House Clearance is committed to delivering safe, compliant and professional rubbish removal and house clearance services. This policy sets out our approach to health and safety across all operations, including waste removal, bulky rubbish collection and domestic or commercial clearance work. Our objective is to protect employees, contractors, customers and the public by minimising risk and ensuring consistent safe systems of work.

Scope and Responsibilities

This policy applies to every task undertaken by Highgate House Clearance and covers materials handling, vehicle operations, site clearances and recycling activities. Managers are responsible for implementing the policy, conducting risk assessments and ensuring resources are available. Employees are expected to follow safe work methods, report hazards and attend training. Contractors and sub‑contractors engaged to support our rubbish collection service must comply with this policy and provide evidence of their own safe working procedures.

We will comply with applicable health and safety law and recognised industry standards. The company maintains documented procedures for risk assessment, incident reporting, vehicle safety, manual handling and hazardous waste segregation. Risk control will be proportionate to the level of hazard and will be reviewed regularly.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems

Formal risk assessments will be carried out for all routine and non‑routine tasks. Assessments will address lifting, handling of sharp or contaminated items, working at heights during loft clearances, and traffic management when operating on public roads. Control measures will include task planning, team lifting, use of mechanical aids and exclusion zones where required.

Training and competency are key controls for effective rubbish removal and clearance work. Staff receive induction training, periodic refreshers and task‑specific instruction. Records of training and qualifications are kept up to date. Supervision levels are adjusted according to task complexity and personnel experience, ensuring safe completion of house clearance and waste removal jobs.

Safe vehicles and plant are essential to our operations. Vehicles used for rubbish collection are serviced at planned intervals, inspected before use and fitted with appropriate safety equipment. Drivers follow safe loading practices, secure loads correctly and obey all road safety regulations. Any defects are reported immediately and the vehicle is removed from service until repaired.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) will be provided where hazards cannot be eliminated. PPE may include gloves, safety boots, high‑visibility clothing, eye protection and respiratory protection for dusty or contaminated environments. Use of PPE is mandatory where identified in the risk assessment. We promote a workplace culture where PPE use is consistently observed and monitored.

Waste handling procedures prioritise segregation and safe disposal. Sharp items, electrical goods, asbestos‑suspected materials and hazardous liquids are identified and managed according to regulatory requirements. Reusable or recyclable items are separated to reduce landfill and support sustainable waste management. Employees are trained to recognise hazardous waste and instructed to stop work and seek assistance where uncertainty exists.

Emergency preparedness and incident management are central to the policy. All staff know how to report accidents, near misses and hazardous conditions. The company maintains a clear incident reporting process, conducts investigations to identify root causes and implements corrective actions. First aid arrangements and procedures for contacting emergency services are in place and communicated to everyone on site.

Communication and consultation keep health and safety effective. Regular toolbox talks, site briefings and safety meetings encourage open discussion of risks and improvement opportunities. Employees are encouraged to contribute observations and suggestions. We maintain records of communications and use them to inform policy updates and training plans.

Monitoring, audit and continuous improvement ensure the policy remains relevant to our rubbish collection and clearance services. Key performance indicators include incident rates, near‑miss reports, audit findings and corrective action completion times. Audits are conducted both internally and, where appropriate, by third parties to validate performance and compliance.

Policy review and commitment: This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed annually or following a significant incident, change in operations or new legal requirements. Highgate House Clearance is committed to maintaining a safe workplace and protecting the health of our team, customers and the public. By following these principles and the procedures derived from them, we aim to deliver reliable, safe and environmentally responsible house clearance and rubbish removal services.