Health and Safety Policy — Garden Clearance Hammersmith

Garden Clearance Hammersmith maintains this Health and Safety Policy to protect staff, contractors and the public across our rubbish company service area. The purpose of this policy is to set out clear responsibilities, controls and procedures for safe working when carrying out garden clearance, waste collection and rubbish removal activities. It applies to all operations within our rubbish removal service area and any associated sites where we manage, transport or store waste. We adopt a precautionary approach to reduce risk, prioritise training and maintain statutory standards without over-specifying local legal detail.

All personnel must understand their roles. The directorate is accountable for policy approval and resources. Managers and supervisors are responsible for implementing risk assessments and ensuring that operatives follow safe systems of work. Employees and operatives must follow instructions, use issued equipment correctly and report hazards. Contractors engaged by Garden Clearance Hammersmith will be expected to comply with our minimum standards for a rubbish collection service area, and we will confirm competence prior to work starting.

Risk assessment is central to our approach. Before any job we undertake a documented assessment of hazards for the specific rubbish collection or waste removal task, including manual handling, sharp objects, hazardous garden waste and vehicle movements. Controls are identified using the hierarchy of controls: elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative measures and personal protective equipment (PPE). Findings are communicated to staff and retained for future reference. We maintain records of near-misses and incidents to continually improve safety in our waste collection area.

Key procedures include, but are not limited to, the following controls which apply across our rubbish company service area:

• Site setup: Establish safe access points, cordons and signage where necessary to separate pedestrians from operations.
• Waste segregation: Segregate green waste, inert materials, hazardous items and recyclable materials to reduce handling risk.
• Tool and equipment checks: Daily inspections of chainsaws, shredders, hand tools and lifting equipment to ensure they are serviceable.

Personal protective equipment is mandatory for specific tasks: high-visibility clothing, gloves, eye and hearing protection, and appropriate footwear. Manual handling training is provided to minimise back injuries when moving heavy garden waste and bulky items. For hazardous items such as asbestos suspect material or chemical containers, work stops and items are treated under a separate hazardous removal protocol with external specialist involvement if required. We emphasise safe lifting techniques and two-person lifts as standard practice.

Vehicles and plant used in the rubbish removal service area are maintained to a scheduled regime. Drivers must be trained and carry relevant documentation. Loads must be secured and covered where appropriate to prevent spillage during transit. Parking and unloading plans are agreed prior to mobilising to ensure safe vehicle movement and to protect local footpaths and carriageways. We operate a permit-to-work mindset for high-risk tasks and maintain clear communication via radios or mobile devices.

Incident reporting is mandatory. All accidents, near-misses and unsafe conditions must be reported immediately to a supervisor and recorded in the incident log. First aid provisions are maintained and trained first aiders are available on larger sites. Emergency procedures cover fire, medical emergency, severe weather and spillage. We will coordinate with emergency services as required and preserve records for internal review.

We conduct routine audits and toolbox talks to verify compliance across our rubbish removal and waste collection areas. Performance is monitored through site inspections, training records and equipment maintenance logs. Contractors are subject to the same monitoring regime and must demonstrate their safety management systems. Where non-conformances are identified, corrective actions are documented and followed up to closure to reduce future risk.

This policy will be reviewed at least annually or when there are significant changes to operations, legislation or following a major incident. Garden Clearance Hammersmith is committed to continuous improvement and the wellbeing of everyone affected by our activities in the rubbish company service area. Everyone must cooperate with the measures set out here: from planning and training to reporting and remediation. The policy is available to all staff and is supported by more detailed safe operating procedures, training modules and site-specific risk assessments to ensure a consistent and safe approach to garden clearance and waste removal across our service zones.