Victoria House Clearance — Health & Safety Policy

Victoria House Clearance is committed to maintaining a safe working environment for staff, contractors and the public while delivering professional rubbish removal and waste clearance across our rubbish company service area. This policy outlines responsibilities, safe systems and expected behaviour to minimise risk during house clearance, bulky waste collection and general rubbish removal operations. Safety is integral to our service delivery and is treated as a core value in every job we accept.

Scope and Objectives

The policy applies to all employees, sub-contractors and temporary workers engaged in rubbish collection service area activities, including vehicle loading, manual handling, site clearance and recycling separation. Our objectives are to: prevent injury, protect health, comply with relevant regulations and continuously improve performance in waste clearance and neighbourhood rubbish services. We maintain a risk-based approach that adapts to different job sites and customer properties.

Responsibilities

Senior management will ensure appropriate resources are available for training, equipment and monitoring of health and safety. Supervisors are responsible for ensuring safe methods on site and that staff follow procedures for house clearance rubbish removal. Employees must take reasonable care for their own safety and that of others, use provided protective equipment and report hazards promptly. Everyone has a role to play in keeping the rubbish company service area accident-free.

Risk assessments are conducted prior to each assignment; these consider unstable structures, sharps, asbestos suspect materials, vermin and hazardous waste within the house clearance or rubbish collection zone. Controls include mechanical aids, exclusion zones, use of specialist hazardous waste contractors where necessary, and clear segregation for recycling, general refuse and hazardous items. Assessments are recorded and reviewed for repeat or high-risk jobs to reduce exposure in the local rubbish removal service area.

Training and competence are mandatory. All operatives receive induction covering manual handling, use of tools, PPE requirements and vehicle safety for bulky waste and house clearance collections. Ongoing training and toolbox talks reinforce safe methods for lifting, containment of waste, and working near public footpaths or customer properties. Competence is assessed and documented to ensure knowledge within the waste clearance service area is current.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is provided free of charge and must be worn where specified. Typical PPE includes high-visibility clothing, gloves suitable for sharp objects, safety boots and eye protection. Respiratory protection is used when dust or potential asbestos is identified. The company enforces a PPE-first culture for all rubbish collection and clearance tasks in the service area.

Vehicle and plant safety: all trucks and mechanical aids are maintained under a scheduled programme. Drivers and operators must perform pre-use checks and report defects immediately. Loads must be secured to prevent spillage during transportation across the rubbish removal service area. Loading limits and safe stacking procedures reduce risks of manual handling injuries and vehicle instability.

Waste segregation and hazardous materials: Operatives will follow strict segregation guidelines to separate recyclables, general waste and hazardous items such as oils, batteries, solvents and asbestos-containing materials. If hazardous waste is encountered during a clearance, work will stop and a qualified hazardous waste contractor will be engaged. This protocol protects staff and fits our commitment to responsible rubbish company service area management.

Incident reporting and investigation: all accidents, near-misses and unsafe conditions must be reported immediately. The company maintains an incident log and will investigate to identify root causes and implement corrective measures. Lessons learned are shared across teams and incorporated into training to prevent recurrence in the wider rubbish collection and house clearance service area.

Emergency procedures: clear procedures are in place for first aid, fire response and evacuation at job sites. First aid kits are available on vehicles and at designated storage points. Employees are instructed on when to summon emergency services and how to preserve the scene for investigation while ensuring safety of personnel and the public during clearance operations.

Monitoring, review and continuous improvement: health and safety performance is reviewed regularly through audits, site inspections and performance indicators specific to house clearance and rubbish removal operations. Policies are updated in response to regulatory changes, incident findings and innovations in waste handling. Management will set measurable targets to reduce incidents across the rubbish company service area.

Policy compliance and communication: this policy is communicated to all staff, subcontractors and stakeholders in a clear and accessible format. Non-compliance is addressed promptly through coaching, retraining or disciplinary action when necessary. By embedding a proactive safety culture and applying these standards consistently, Victoria House Clearance strives to deliver reliable, safe and responsible rubbish removal and waste clearance services within our service area.