Garden Clearance Kingston - Health & Safety Policy

This document sets out the Health & Safety Policy for Garden Clearance Kingston, reflecting our commitment to safe garden clearance and rubbish removal across our operational service area. The purpose of this policy is to ensure that everyone who works for or with the company understands and follows robust safety standards. It applies to all garden clearance, garden waste removal and general rubbish collection activities and governs how we reduce risk, protect workers, protect the public and minimise environmental impact.

Our approach to safety is proactive: hazards are identified and controlled before work begins; staff are trained and competent; equipment is inspected and maintained; and clear lines of responsibility are in place. The policy covers operational tasks from initial site assessment through to final rubbish disposal, including the handling of green waste, bulky items and mixed refuse. All employees and contractors are expected to cooperate to achieve a safe workplace.

Responsibilities are allocated to ensure accountability. Management must provide safe systems of work, adequate resources, and regular reviews. Supervisors and crew leaders must implement safety procedures on site and ensure that risk assessments are followed. Each operative has a duty to work safely, to use the provided personal protective equipment (PPE), and to report hazards or near misses immediately. The policy is supported by written procedures such as the following core controls:

• Pre-work risk assessment for every site
• Use of PPE appropriate to the task (gloves, boots, eye protection, hi-vis)
• Safe handling and segregation of waste streams

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems

All locations where clearance takes place require a documented risk assessment before work commences. Assessments cover trip and fall risks, manual handling hazards, biological risks (e.g. contaminated soil, garden pests), and chemical exposure where pesticides or treated timber may be present. Where a higher risk is identified — such as confined spaces, unstable structures or large-scale waste removal — a specific method statement is prepared and approved by management. These documents form part of our safe systems of work and are accessible to crew members at all times.

Personal protective equipment is mandatory during operational tasks. Staff are supplied with appropriate PPE and trained in its correct use and maintenance. PPE requirements may include gloves, cut-resistant sleeves, steel-toe boots, eye protection and respiratory protection when handling dusty or mouldy materials. Equipment such as chainsaws, shredders and lifting gear are only used by trained operatives following manufacturer guidance and internal safe operating procedures to reduce the chance of injury during garden clearance and rubbish removal.

To support safe operations we maintain a programme of vehicle and plant checks. Work vehicles used for collection and transportation of garden waste and rubbish are inspected daily and serviced regularly. Load security, weight distribution and waste containment are checked before each journey to prevent spillage or incidents on public roads. Drivers follow established routes within the rubbish company service area and adhere to road safety laws and company speed policies.

Training, Communication and Supervision

Staff competency is central to our policy. We provide induction training for all new operatives, regular refresher courses on manual handling and vehicle safety, and task-specific training such as chainsaw operation and hazardous materials recognition. Supervision is tailored to the risk level of the activity; for higher risk jobs, a nominated supervisor ensures procedures are followed, including the use of spotters for reversing vehicles and additional controls during heavy manual handling.

Effective communication is emphasised on every site. Job briefs and toolbox talks are carried out at the start of the working day, with clear instructions on the expected duties, identified hazards and emergency arrangements. We maintain written records of briefings and training to demonstrate due diligence and continuous improvement across our clearance services and rubbish removal operations.

Incident reporting and investigation allow us to learn from events and improve our systems. All injuries, near misses and unsafe conditions are reported promptly, investigated to identify root causes and followed by corrective action. Records are reviewed by management and where necessary, the risk assessment and procedures are updated. We monitor key performance indicators such as accident frequency, training completion rates and vehicle inspection compliance to maintain high safety standards throughout the waste removal service area.

Environmental and Legal Compliance

Garden Clearance Kingston operates with a commitment to environmental protection alongside health and safety. Waste is segregated and managed to reduce landfill, with green waste routed to appropriate recycling or composting outlets. We ensure that hazardous or controlled wastes are handled in accordance with current waste management regulations. Our policy recognises the need to meet statutory obligations while delivering reliable clearance services to our operational area.

Monitoring and review ensure the policy remains effective. This document is reviewed annually and after any significant incident or change in operations. Continuous improvement is sought through audits, fleet checks and feedback from operatives, with corrective measures implemented promptly to maintain compliance and worker safety.

All personnel are required to familiarise themselves with this policy and to adopt safe working practices. Management will continue to provide leadership, resources and oversight so that our garden waste removal and rubbish collection activities are conducted safely, responsibly and in alignment with our duty of care.