Health & Safety Policy for Flat Clearance Coney Hall

This document sets out the health and safety commitments of our flat clearance operation, emphasising safe rubbish removal and waste management across our service area. The policy applies to all personnel engaged in flat clearance, including employees, contractors and temporary staff working for the rubbish removal and clearance teams. The aim is to create a consistent approach to risk control during flat clearance projects, ensuring safe handling of bulky waste, protection from sharps and hazardous materials, and careful management of manual handling and vehicle movements. It supports the provision of a safe working environment for everyone involved without specifying local legal text.

Policy statement and scope

We commit to preventing work-related injury and ill health by implementing proportionate controls for every flat clearance task. Our rubbish collection and waste removal services will be planned and executed to minimise risk to operatives, residents and third parties. This policy covers pre-clearance risk assessment, on-site controls, secure waste segregation, and the safe transportation of recyclable and non-recyclable materials. All staff must follow the safe systems of work and report unsafe conditions promptly.

Objectives

Key objectives are to: reduce manual handling incidents during flat clearance work, ensure secure containment of hazardous items, maintain plant and vehicle safety, and embed training and supervision for every operative in our rubbish clearance service. We will monitor performance through inspections, incident investigations and routine audits to maintain continuous improvement in health and safety standards.

Responsibilities

Management responsibilities include:

• Risk assessments for all jobs and site-specific controls
• Provision and maintenance of PPE and equipment
• Training, supervision and competency assurance
• Maintaining records of inspections and incidents

Employees must follow instructions, use provided PPE, participate in training, and report hazards. Contractors and subcontractors engaged for clearance must demonstrate equivalent safety standards before commencing work.

Risk assessment and control measures are central to safe flat clearance operations. Each job will have a documented assessment that identifies hazards such as heavy lifting, slips and trips, sharps, electrical appliances, and potential biohazards. Control measures include safe lifting techniques, use of trolleys and lifting aids, provision of puncture-resistant gloves, clear signage, and exclusion zones during vehicle loading. Where necessary, job plans will specify additional manpower or mechanical aids to avoid unsafe manual handling practices.

Safe working practices for rubbish collection

Our flat clearance teams will follow defined procedures for sorting and segregation of waste on-site to reduce contamination and cross-contamination risks. Reusable and recyclable items are separated from general waste, and hazardous materials are isolated and handled by trained personnel. Safe stacking and secure loading onto vehicles is mandatory; loose items must be contained. Vehicles used for waste removal are inspected daily and maintained in safe working order to avoid mechanical failure while on the road.

Manual handling rules are enforced for all rubbish clearance activities: plan the lift, assess weight and grip, use mechanical aids where possible, and team-lift large items. Employees will be encouraged to report aches or injuries early and to attend occupational health checks when required. We emphasise clear communication during complex lifts and manoeuvres to protect operatives and residents.

Hazardous materials and sharps handling protocols are strict: when sharps or chemical waste are identified they are segregated into secure containers, labelled correctly and managed in line with safe disposal practice. Our teams are trained to identify possible asbestos-containing materials and to stop work and seek specialist advice if suspected. No legal advice or local regulation is included here; instead the policy focuses on practical, precautionary measures to protect health.

Emergency procedures and incident response require that operatives know the actions for first aid, fire and spillage control. All sites have nominated first-aiders and arrangements for rapid access to medical assistance. Accident and near-miss reporting is mandatory so that lessons can be learned and similar incidents avoided in future flat clearance activities.

Monitoring, record-keeping and review are vital. Regular site inspections, toolbox talks and safety audits will be conducted. We keep training logs, maintenance records for vehicles and equipment, and a log of risk assessments and mitigations for each rubbish removal job. Where performance shortfalls are identified, corrective actions will be implemented and tracked to completion.

Conclusion: our commitment is to a safe, competent and professional flat clearance and rubbish removal service. This health and safety policy is supported by practical measures: detailed planning, adequate training, appropriate PPE, clear responsibilities and ongoing monitoring. The policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure it remains effective and aligned with best practice. All personnel involved in flat clearance operations are expected to read, understand and comply with this policy to help deliver a safe working environment for everyone.