House Clearance Millhill – Health and Safety Policy

This policy sets out the commitment of House Clearance Millhill to protect the health, safety and welfare of all employees, contractors and members of the public affected by our house clearance and rubbish removal activities. It applies across our entire rubbish company service area and to all operations including domestic clearances, bulky waste removal and site tidy services. The aim is to maintain a safe working environment and to continually reduce risks associated with waste clearance and collection.

Our policy is guided by the principles of prevention, protection and continuous improvement. We will comply with relevant health and safety legislation and accepted industry standards, ensuring that risk assessments are proportionate and that control measures are effective. Everyone on site must understand that safety is a core value and a shared responsibility.

The scope covers all activities in the service footprint including property interiors, gardens, driveways and communal areas where rubbish collection services are conducted. This policy also addresses vehicle safety, manual handling, hazardous substances, sharps and clinical waste encountered during clearances. It is applicable to full clearances, light rubbish pickups and specialised waste removals.

Responsibilities and Organisational Arrangements

Overall responsibility for health and safety lies with senior management who will ensure resources are available for implementation. Operational managers and team leads are responsible for day-to-day compliance. Individual workers must follow procedures, use the provided equipment correctly and report hazards promptly.

Key duties

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Senior management: maintain the policy, conduct reviews and ensure training and PPE provisioning;
• Supervisors: perform site risk assessments, issue safe systems of work and monitor team performance;
• Employees: follow safe methods, attend training and report incidents;
• Contractors: comply with on-site rules and permit-to-work arrangements where applicable.

Risk assessments are required for every job and must be documented. The assessment process covers manual handling loads, access and egress, traffic management during drop-offs and collections, and potential exposure to asbestos, solvents or biological hazards. Control measures will adopt the hierarchy of controls: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls and PPE.

Manual handling training is mandatory for all staff involved in lifting activities. Use of mechanical aids, trolleys and team lifts should be planned in advance. The policy mandates the use of appropriate personal protective equipment such as gloves, high-visibility clothing, steel-toe boots and eye protection where required. Respiratory protection must be used in dusty environments or where hazardous particulates are present.

Hazardous materials encountered during house clearance — including batteries, paint cans, solvents, asbestos suspect materials and sharps — will be managed with specific controls. Waste segregation on-site is required: non-hazardous waste, recyclable materials and hazardous items are to be separated and stored securely pending disposal by authorised routes. Employees must not attempt to repurpose suspect hazardous items.

Vehicle safety and logistics are integral to our rubbish removal operations. Drivers must conduct pre-departure checks, secure loads correctly and adhere to safe driving practices. Slip, trip and fall prevention around vehicles is emphasised, and traffic management plans will be used for larger clearances. Environmental considerations such as spill prevention, recycling targets and minimising landfill use are embedded in operational planning.

Incident Reporting, Investigation and First Aid

All incidents, near-misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported immediately. A formal investigation will determine root causes and corrective actions, with lessons learned communicated across the team. First aid provisions are in place and trained first-aiders will be accessible during operational hours. Where medical treatment is required beyond first aid, incidents will be escalated following established procedures.

Training, Competence and Communication

Training is provided to ensure competence in house clearance techniques, handling bulky items and operating any powered equipment. Induction training covers site rules, use of PPE and relevant health and safety obligations. Toolbox talks and briefings occur regularly to reinforce safe working practices, and updates are issued when procedures change.

Monitoring and review processes include routine site inspections, audits and performance reviews. We will measure safety performance through incident trends, near-miss reports and completion rates for training and risk assessments. This policy will be reviewed annually or following significant change, incident, or changes in legislation to ensure it remains effective and relevant across the rubbish clearance service area and associated waste management activities.

Conclusion — House Clearance Millhill is committed to maintaining a robust health and safety framework that protects workers, clients and the public during house clearances and rubbish collection operations. Everyone involved is expected to play an active role in creating a safer workplace, from planning and risk assessment to execution and review. Maintaining safety standards is essential to our services across the removal and waste management service area, and we will continue to improve systems, training and controls to achieve that objective.