Health and Safety Policy — Garden Clearance Coney Hall
This Health and Safety Policy sets out the commitment of Garden Clearance Coney Hall to provide a safe working environment for all staff, contractors and the public in our rubbish removal and garden clearance operations. The policy covers all activities within our rubbish company service area, including garden waste removal, bulky waste collection, and general site clearance. The aim is to prevent injury, protect health, and promote safe, sustainable waste and debris handling practices.
Scope and application: this policy applies to every person working on behalf of the garden clearance and waste removal service, whether employed, contracted or volunteering. Responsibilities are clearly allocated across management and operational teams, and the policy is supported by documented procedures, training and regular review. All personnel must follow the procedures for site safety, vehicle operations and waste segregation to support both safety and environmental goals.
Management commitment: senior management will provide the resources and leadership necessary to implement this policy across the rubbish collection service area. Managers will ensure risk assessments are completed for jobs, safe systems of work are in place, and staff have access to suitable personal protective equipment (PPE). Continuous improvement is achieved through monitoring, audits and open communication between teams.
Hazard identification and risk assessment are central to our approach. Before any garden clearance activity begins, hazards such as sharp objects, asbestos risk, hazardous plants, deep holes, unstable structures and vehicle interactions are identified and controlled. Where hazards cannot be eliminated, controls are introduced to reduce the risk to an acceptable level, following a hierarchy of controls from elimination, substitution, engineering controls to administrative measures.
Operational controls include mandatory PPE for all clearance staff, routine inspection of tools and machinery, clear exclusion zones for public access, and traffic management when operating in roadside or shared spaces. Personal protective equipment such as gloves, eye protection, hi-vis clothing and steel-toe boots are provided and must be worn as instructed. Supervisors will ensure compliance and provide immediate correction where unsafe behaviour is observed.
Waste handling and segregation: specific procedures cover the removal and separation of garden waste, general rubbish and recyclable materials. Our teams use colour-coded containers and labelled sacks to ensure that wood, green waste, mixed domestic waste and recyclable materials are handled appropriately. Vehicles used in the rubbish removal service area are maintained to prevent spillage and to secure loads, and drivers are trained in safe loading, vehicle stability and route planning to reduce congestion and roadside risk.
Training, competence and supervision
All staff receive induction training that covers this policy, emergency procedures and basic first-aid awareness. Further task-specific training is provided for the use of chainsaws, shredders, powered tools and mechanical lifting equipment. Competence is assessed regularly and refresher training is scheduled to maintain standards. New employees are supervised until they demonstrate safe working practices under a mentor system.
Safe systems of work are documented and available to all staff. These include method statements for complex clearances, permit-to-work processes for risky activities and protocols for working alone or in adverse weather. Manual handling risks are reduced through use of wheelbarrows, trolleys, mechanical lifters and team lifts where appropriate. Employees are encouraged to report near-misses so that controls can be adapted promptly.
Emergency preparedness covers first aid provision, communication plans and evacuation procedures. Appropriate first aid kits are supplied to vehicles and sites, and designated first aiders are appointed. In the event of a significant incident, our incident reporting system ensures timely investigation and corrective action to prevent recurrence.
Monitoring, inspection and continual improvement are embedded in how we operate. Regular site inspections, vehicle checks and toolbox talks are conducted, with findings recorded and corrective actions tracked. Performance indicators include incident rates, training completion, and successful waste diversion to recycling streams. Internal audits and third-party inspections help validate our controls and identify opportunities to strengthen health and safety across the clearance and waste removal service area.
Environmental and waste disposal practices are aligned with good practice for waste transfer and resource recovery. Materials that can be reused, composted or recycled are segregated and directed to appropriate facilities. Hazardous materials discovered during clearances are isolated and managed according to safe handling procedures until they can be transferred to authorised disposal points — minimising risk to people and the environment.
