Health and Safety Policy — Garden Clearance Wallington

Introduction: This policy sets out the commitment of Garden Clearance Wallington to maintain a safe working environment for staff, contractors and the public while delivering garden clearance and waste removal services. The document describes responsibilities, safe systems of work, and controls applied by our operational teams across our rubbish company service area and related waste clearance service areas.

Purpose and Scope

The purpose of this policy is to prevent injury and ill health, protect the environment, and ensure compliance with applicable health and safety standards. It covers all activities associated with garden clearance, including the handling, separation and removal of garden material, bulky waste, and general rubbish. This policy applies to employees, subcontractors and visitors operating within our rubbish removal service area and any locations where our services are provided.

Risk Assessment and Planning

Before any clearance work begins a documented risk assessment is carried out to identify hazards such as sharp objects, asbestos risk, hazardous plants, unstable walls or fences, and fire risks from compost or dry material. Control measures are implemented and reviewed. Key controls include:

• Site survey to identify hazards and access restrictions;
• Method statements for high-risk activities;
• Segregation of recyclable, compostable and general waste;
• Provision of safe routes for pedestrians and site traffic.

Roles and Responsibilities

Management is responsible for setting the safety standards and allocating resources to meet them. Supervisors must ensure that staff follow safe systems of work. All operatives are required to work safely and report hazards, incidents and near-misses promptly. Visitors and clients must comply with site instructions and those providing access should inform crews of any known site-specific hazards in the rubbish collection area.

Training and Competence

Operatives receive induction training, task-specific training, and refresher courses. Training covers manual handling, safe use of tools, use of powered equipment, vehicle loading and securing, and awareness of biological hazards such as needles or contaminated waste. Records of training are maintained to demonstrate competence across the waste clearance service area.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Appropriate PPE is issued and must be worn at all times where risk assessments prescribe its use. This includes gloves, eye protection, hi-vis clothing, safety boots and respiratory protection for dusty operations. PPE use is enforced, and damaged or worn items are replaced promptly to maintain effective protection during garden clearance and rubbish removal tasks.

Safe Work Procedures

Garden clearance operations follow defined procedures to control hazards. These procedures include correct manual handling techniques, safe cutting and removal of vegetation, use of mechanical aids for heavy loads, and procedures for segregating and containing waste types. Our garden clearance rubbish service ensures that recyclable materials are separated on-site where possible and hazardous items are isolated for specialist disposal.

Vehicles, Traffic and Site Access

Vehicle movements are a significant risk in any clearance operation. Vehicles are maintained, load plans are followed and drivers are trained in safe loading/unloading and reversing procedures. Traffic management measures such as cones, signage and banksmen are used in busy or constrained locations within the rubbish company service area to protect operatives and the public.

Environmental Controls include measures to prevent pollution, such as preventing runoff from stored debris, controlling dust when shredding garden waste, and ensuring secure containment of hazardous materials. Disposal routes follow permitted processing or landfill requirements and are selected to minimise environmental impact.

Incident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All incidents, injuries and near-misses must be reported immediately. An appropriate first-aid response is arranged and serious incidents are escalated to management. Emergency procedures include evacuation plans, spill control, and liaison with emergency services. Records of incidents are reviewed to identify trends and preventive actions across the rubbish collection area.

Monitoring, Inspection and Audit

Regular site inspections, vehicle checks and toolbox talks are used to monitor compliance. Audits are conducted periodically to review performance and identify opportunities for improvement. Non-conformances are logged, investigated and corrective actions tracked to closure, ensuring ongoing improvement across the waste clearance service area.

Review and Continuous Improvement

This policy is reviewed at least annually, or after significant changes to operations, legislation or following a serious incident. Staff involvement is encouraged through safety meetings and suggestions for safer ways of working. Commitment to safety is integral to our service delivery and underpins our approach to protecting people and the environment while providing reliable rubbish removal services.

Statement: Management endorses this policy and will provide the resources required for its implementation. Everyone engaged in garden clearance activities has a responsibility to work safely and contribute to a safe working culture across the rubbish removal and garden clearance service areas.

Signed on behalf of the organisation. Policy ownership, distribution and record-keeping procedures ensure the document is available to all employees and relevant stakeholders. The policy complements statutory duties while reflecting best practice for safe, efficient waste handling in our service area.

End of policy.