Health & Safety Policy – Garden Clearance Balham

Purpose and scope

This Health and Safety Policy sets out the commitment of Garden Clearance Balham to protect employees, contractors and the public during garden clearance and rubbish removal operations. The policy applies to all people engaged in garden waste clearance, green waste disposal, bulky rubbish removal and related clearance service area activities carried out under our authority. Its purpose is to minimise risk, ensure compliance with applicable health and safety standards and promote safe working practices across our rubbish company service area.

Core principles

The organisation will: prevent harm by identifying hazards and applying proportionate controls; ensure that all staff are competent through training; and maintain a safe system of work. Responsibilities are allocated clearly: management will provide leadership and resources, supervisors will ensure safe execution, and employees are expected to follow procedures and report hazards. This policy endorses continuous improvement and regular risk assessment.

Risk assessment and safe systems

All tasks, from hedge cutting and tree branch removal to loading van loads of garden refuse, require documented risk assessments. These assessments will: identify hazards (sharp objects, heavy lifting, soil contaminants, vehicle movements), evaluate risks, and define control measures. Control measures include exclusion zones, use of appropriate tools, mechanical aids for heavy loads and safe waste segregation to avoid contamination of recyclables and general rubbish.

Personal protective equipment and training

Staff must be provided with and wear suitable PPE such as gloves, safety boots, high-visibility clothing, eye protection and hearing protection where needed. Training covers manual handling techniques, safe use of chainsaws and shredders, correct operation of mechanical lifting aids and basic first aid. Competency is assessed regularly and recorded. The company ensures that refresher training and toolbox talks are scheduled to reinforce safe practice across our garden waste removal and rubbish clearance services.

Equipment, vehicles and maintenance

Routine inspections and maintenance regimes are implemented for all tools, chippers, vehicles and trailers. Operators may only use equipment for which they are trained and authorised. Vehicles used for rubbish removal must be loaded and secured to prevent shifting loads. Pre-start checks and record keeping are mandatory. Any defective equipment is taken out of service until repaired. Safe vehicle operations include reversing protocols, use of banksmen where necessary and compliance with load weight restrictions.

Hazardous materials and waste segregation

Hazardous items such as asbestos-containing materials, chemical containers, contaminated soils or sharps must not be handled without specialist assessment. Where such items are suspected, work is stopped and a qualified assessor engaged. Waste streams are segregated on site to maximise recycling and to ensure safe disposal of hazardous fractions in accordance with regulatory requirements. Staff are trained to recognise prohibited items and to follow escalation procedures.

Incident reporting and emergency response

Any incident, injury or near miss must be reported immediately using the company incident reporting system. The policy requires a prompt investigation to identify root causes and to implement corrective actions. Emergency procedures are in place for injuries, fire and major spill incidents. First aid kits and fire extinguishers are available on site and on vehicles, and nominated first aiders are appointed for each team.

Workplace welfare and wellbeing

The company recognises the importance of staff welfare. Provision is made for rest breaks, hydration, and safe handling of hot or cold weather exposure during outdoor garden clearance operations. Mental wellbeing is supported through access to occupational support services where available. Supervisors are instructed to monitor workloads and to intervene when staff are fatigued or showing signs of stress.

Contractors and subcontractor management

All contractors engaged to perform tasks on behalf of Garden Clearance Balham must demonstrate equivalent health and safety standards. Pre-qualification checks include verification of insurance, method statements, risk assessments and relevant licences. Supervisors must coordinate activities to ensure safe interaction between internal teams and external operatives, particularly during combined site operations in our clearance service area.

Monitoring, review and continuous improvement

Health and safety performance is monitored through audits, inspections and review of incident trends. Key performance indicators include the frequency of near misses, number of training sessions completed and compliance with maintenance schedules. The policy will be reviewed at least annually or following a significant incident, change in operations or legislative update. The organisation commits to learning from occurrences and to updating procedures to reduce risk.

Roles and enforcement

• Management – provide resources, establish policy and ensure legal compliance;
• Supervisors – implement risk controls and monitor daily safety;
• Employees – follow instructions, use PPE and report hazards.

This policy is enforced through disciplinary and improvement measures where necessary. Non-conformance will be addressed promptly to protect everyone involved in garden clearance, green waste handling and rubbish removal activities.

Commitment statement

Garden Clearance Balham is committed to maintaining a safe working environment across its rubbish company service area. By applying proportionate controls, ensuring competency and promoting a culture of safety, the organisation seeks to prevent harm while delivering reliable garden waste removal and clearance services. This policy is endorsed by senior management and made available to all staff, contractors and stakeholders as part of our legal and moral obligation to health and safety.

Policy review date: This policy will be reviewed periodically to reflect changes in legislation, operational practice or after significant incidents. All employees are encouraged to contribute to safety improvements by reporting ideas and hazards through the established channels.

Signed: Senior Management Team
Position: Policy owners for health & safety