Health & Safety Policy — Garden Clearance Wanstead

Purpose: This policy sets out the health and safety approach for our garden clearance operations, focusing on safe rubbish removal and garden waste clearance across our service area. It outlines responsibilities, risk controls and safe working practices designed to protect staff, clients, contractors and the public. The policy applies whenever grounds maintenance, hedge trimming, tree pruning, green waste removal or general garden clearances are undertaken.

We operate as a professional rubbish company serving a defined service area and are committed to continuous improvement in safety performance. The intent is to integrate safe systems into every job: from site assessment and waste segregation to vehicle loading and final disposal. All personnel must familiarise themselves with this policy and follow its requirements.

Scope: This policy covers risks common to garden clearance, including manual handling, slips/trips/falls, hazardous plants, sharps, biological contamination, dust, noise and the use of powered equipment (chippers, chainsaws, strimmers and shredders). It also addresses safe rubbish collection, secure vehicle operation and prevention of environmental harm during waste removal operations across our rubbish removal service area.

Responsibilities

Management will ensure adequate resources, training and supervision are provided. Managers are responsible for risk assessments, ensuring PPE is available, maintaining plant and vehicles and monitoring compliance. Supervisors must enforce safe working practices and stop work if conditions are unsafe.

Employees and contractors must follow procedures, report hazards and incidents, use PPE correctly and attend required training. They have a duty to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and for others who may be affected by their actions. The company will not tolerate reckless behaviour that endangers people or property within the rubbish company service area.

Risk Assessment and Control Measures

Risk assessments are carried out for each site and task before work starts. Control measures include:

• Pre-job site surveys to identify access issues, hidden hazards and waste types (e.g., asbestos risk, contaminated soil).
• Safe systems of work for the use of powered tools, manual handling protocols and mechanical aids for heavy loads.
• Use of appropriate PPE: gloves, eye/ear protection, hi-vis clothing, chainsaw trousers and respiratory protection where dust or bioaerosols are present.

Vehicle and plant safety is critical: vehicles will be loaded within safe axle and gross weights, load restraint will be used and regular maintenance checks completed. Drivers and operatives must follow vehicle safety checklists and traffic safety rules when operating within the waste removal service and collection zones.

Waste segregation is enforced to reduce contamination, facilitate recycling and comply with permitted disposal routes. Hazardous materials discovered during clearances will be isolated and reported; specialist removal arranged as required. When clearing garden waste, operatives will separate timber, green waste, general rubbish and recyclable materials at source.

Training and competence form a cornerstone of safe service delivery. All operatives receive induction training, task-specific instruction and periodic refresher sessions covering manual handling, tool use, emergency procedures and safe rubbish collection practices. Competence records are maintained and used to allocate duties suitable to each worker’s training and experience within the broader garden clearance remit.

Incident Reporting and Investigation: Any accident, near miss or environmental incident must be reported immediately. Incidents are investigated to identify root causes and corrective actions to prevent recurrence. Learning from incidents is communicated across the team to improve safety standards in the clearance and rubbish transportation activities across our service area.

Emergency Procedures: Clear emergency procedures are in place, including first aid provisions, emergency contact protocols and arrangements for prompt medical attention. Operatives are instructed on fire safety, allergic reactions (e.g., insect stings or plant dermatitis) and how to respond to major hazards encountered when conducting garden clearance.

Monitoring, audit and review are ongoing. Regular site inspections, toolbox talks and performance reviews help ensure the policy remains effective and relevant to changes in operational practice or regulation. This includes monitoring of contractors and subcontractors to ensure they operate to equivalent safety standards when working within our rubbish collection and green waste clearance service area.

We are committed to reducing the environmental impact of clearance activities by promoting recycling, re-use and safe disposal of waste. Safe handling of green waste reduces the risk of pest spread and contamination. Environmental protection is integrated with health and safety controls.

Policy review: This document is reviewed periodically and following significant incidents, changes to operations or relevant legislation. Employees are informed of updates and training is provided as necessary to maintain compliance and protect wellbeing during every garden clearance and rubbish removal task.

Compliance with this health and safety policy is a condition of employment and contract. Those who fail to follow required procedures may face disciplinary action. Everyone is encouraged to contribute to a positive safety culture by raising concerns, suggesting improvements and participating in safety activities that support safe and efficient garden clearance across the entire rubbish company service area.

Conclusion: Our objective is to deliver safe, responsible and professional garden clearance, waste removal and site tidy services. By following this policy and maintaining vigilance, we protect our people, clients and the wider community while delivering high-quality clearance services throughout the service area.

Signed on behalf of management — Health & Safety Lead.