Health & Safety Policy — Flat Clearance Southwark

This Health and Safety Policy sets out the commitment of Flat Clearance Southwark to maintain safe working conditions across our waste removal and rubbish collection service area. The policy applies to all employees, contractors and anyone engaged with our rubbish removal service area operations. Its purpose is to prevent injury and ill health, reduce environmental harm, and ensure compliant, professional clearance and disposal when providing flat clearance, waste uplift and general rubbish collection services.

Management will ensure that adequate resources are allocated to implement this policy. Responsibilities are clearly assigned: senior managers will lead on policy enforcement and risk governance; supervisors will implement safe systems of work; and every operative is required to follow procedures, attend training and report hazards. All staff have a duty to co-operate and to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others while carrying out rubbish clearance tasks in the service area.

All operations are underpinned by documented risk assessments and method statements. We conduct routine assessments of manual handling, use of tools and plant, vehicle operations and customer premises access. Hazard control measures include use of mechanical aids, perimeter segregation during clearances, and safe lifting techniques. Important controls are also documented as permit to work where specific risks are identified, and are reviewed whenever services change or new equipment is introduced.

Training, PPE and Safe Systems

Employees receive appropriate training for the waste types they handle, including segregation for recycling and hazardous items. Training covers manual handling, safe use of trolleys, wheelie bin manoeuvres, and safe operating practice for removal teams working in the rubbish company service area. Regular toolbox talks and refresher courses ensure competence when delivering a wide range of rubbish clearance and waste removal services.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is provided, and its use is mandatory where hazards cannot be eliminated. PPE includes gloves, safety boots, high-visibility garments and eye or respiratory protection where necessary. Supervisors ensure that PPE supplied is suitable for the task, maintained in good condition and correctly used. The policy implements safe work checklists and a small selection of key controls as follows:

• Pre-job checks and site-specific briefings;
• Use of aids such as sack trucks and lifting straps;
• Clear segregation of recyclable, non-recyclable and hazardous waste;
• Immediate reporting of damaged tools or unsafe site conditions.

Vehicles used for rubbish collection and clearance are maintained to a high standard and inspected daily. Drivers follow safe loading practices and load restraints are used to prevent shifting during transit. Where access, parking or traffic conditions present risk, alternative operating procedures are used to protect the workforce and the public while delivering rubbish collection service area operations.

Hazardous Materials, Environmental Controls and Compliance

We operate strict controls for potentially hazardous items that may be encountered during flat clearance or waste removal. These include sharps, batteries, asbestos-suspect materials and chemical containers. Such materials are isolated, clearly labelled and either removed by competent contractors or handled under bespoke procedures. The policy ensures waste is segregated to maximise reuse and recycling while reducing landfill, reflecting our environmental commitment within the rubbish clearance service area.

Incidents, near misses and non-conformances are reported through an internal system and are investigated promptly to identify root causes and corrective actions. First aid provisions and trained first-aiders are in place across operations, and emergency procedures are documented and tested periodically. Recording and monitoring of incidents drive continual improvement in safety performance and are part of management reviews.

Contractors and temporary staff engaged to support specific clearances must demonstrate competency and comply with this policy. Audits and site inspections are conducted regularly to verify that safe systems of work are applied consistently across the rubbish removal and clearance service area. Management commits to regular policy review, updating procedures to reflect operational changes, legislative updates and best practice. By maintaining clear responsibilities, training, risk assessment and monitoring, Flat Clearance Southwark seeks to protect people, property and the environment while delivering reliable rubbish collection and clearance services.