Health and Safety Policy — Garden Clearance Queens Park

This Health and Safety policy sets out the commitment of Garden Clearance Queens Park to manage risks and protect employees, contractors, clients and the public during garden clearance, waste removal and rubbish collection activities. The policy applies across our rubbish company service area and to all staff engaged in vegetation clearance, debris removal, bulky waste collection and general site tidy-up operations. Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health and environmental harm by applying sound, proportionate controls and consistent safety practice.

Scope: The policy covers routine garden clearance tasks, mechanical and manual handling, operation of small plant and equipment, vehicle loading and transit, segregation of recyclable and non-recyclable materials, and the safe disposal of waste in accordance with regulatory requirements. It applies to permanent and temporary staff, agency workers, contractors and any persons under our operational control while work is performed within the defined rubbish removal service activities.

Responsibilities: Management will ensure that adequate resources are available to implement this policy, including risk assessments, training, personal protective equipment (PPE), and monitoring. Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for day-to-day enforcement of safe working methods, documentation of incidents and ensuring staff are competent to carry out assigned tasks. Employees and operatives must follow safe systems of work, report hazards, and use provided PPE correctly. Any person witnessing unsafe conditions must take immediate steps to eliminate the hazard or secure the area and notify a supervisor. This clear allocation of duties supports consistent standards across the garden clearance and waste removal operations.

Risk assessment and control: Prior to work commencing, trained staff will conduct a dynamic assessment of risks associated with site access, ground conditions, presence of hazardous materials, underground services and overhead obstacles. Control measures include exclusion zones, traffic management, safe routes for pedestrians and vehicles, manual handling aids, lifting techniques and mechanical assistance where required. Where significant hazards are identified, work will be stopped until mitigations are implemented. These procedures are integral to our rubbish collection and site clearance methodologies.

PPE and equipment: Appropriate PPE is mandatory for all operatives and may include high-visibility clothing, gloves, safety boots, eye and hearing protection and respiratory protection where airborne dust or allergens are present. All plant, tools and vehicles must be maintained to manufacturer standards and inspected before use. Equipment that is unsuitable or damaged will be removed from service. Use of specialist gear for bulky waste, asbestos-suspect materials or chemical contamination follows statutory controls and waste carrier responsibilities.

Training and competence: Personnel engaged in garden clearance, hedge cutting, tree pruning, stump removal and bulky rubbish handling will receive induction training and task-specific instruction. This includes safe use of chainsaws, shredders, chippers, pressure washers, and hand tools, plus defensive driving and secure load practices for transport. Records are maintained for training, certifications and refresher periods to ensure operatives remain competent within our rubbish company service area operations.

Safe waste handling and segregation: We adopt a hierarchy that prioritises reuse, recycling and recovery ahead of disposal. Staff are trained to segregate green waste, timber, metals, inert materials, and general household items. Hazardous wastes, including solvents, paints, oils, batteries and asbestos-containing materials, are identified and handled only by authorised personnel in line with legal obligations. Proper labelling and containment reduce spill and exposure risks and protect the wider environment.

Vehicle and traffic safety: Vehicles used for rubbish collection and garden clearance will be appropriately equipped and regularly inspected. Drivers must ensure loads are secured, weight limits observed and that safe reversing and parking practices are followed. Where operations occur near roads or public thoroughfares, we will implement traffic management plans and use signage and banksmen as required to protect road users and operatives.

Emergency procedures and incident reporting: Clear procedures are in place for first aid, emergency services contact, spill containment and fire response. All incidents, near-misses and environmental releases must be reported immediately and recorded. We investigate to identify root causes and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence. Lessons learned feed back into training and procedural updates across our rubbish removal and garden clearance workstreams.

Monitoring and audit: We conduct routine workplace inspections, toolbox talks and periodic audits to ensure compliance with this policy and legal requirements. Performance indicators include incident rates, training currency, equipment inspection results and waste diversion rates. Findings are reported to senior management and used to plan continuous improvement.

Communication and consultation: Open communication with employees and contractors is central to maintaining a safe work environment. We encourage reporting of hazards, suggestions for improvement and active participation in safety meetings. Consultation processes ensure team awareness of changes to methods, equipment or legislation affecting the rubbish collection and garden clearance services.

Review: This policy will be reviewed at least annually or following a significant change to business activities, equipment, legislation or after a major incident. Revisions will be communicated to all staff and incorporated into training and operational procedures to maintain a high standard of health and safety across our rubbish company operations. Garden Clearance Queens Park commits to ongoing improvement and adherence to best practice in all waste handling and clearance activities to safeguard people and the environment.