Health and Safety Policy — Office Clearance Eltham

Purpose: This Health and Safety Policy sets out the responsibilities and procedures for safe operation of office clearance, rubbish removal and commercial clearance services provided under the Office Clearance Eltham name. The policy emphasises a consistent, risk-based approach to protect employees, contractors, visitors and clients, and to ensure that all waste handling and office waste removal tasks comply with best practice and statutory requirements.

Scope and Commitment

Scope: This policy applies to all staff and contractors engaged in office clearance, office waste removal, and associated site activities. The organisation is committed to preventing work-related injury and ill health and to continually improving health and safety performance across every rubbish collection and clearance operation.

Responsibilities

Management will ensure that adequate resources are allocated for training, equipment and monitoring. Managers will:

• carry out risk assessments for each clearance job;
• ensure safe systems of work are documented;
• maintain records of training and incidents.

Employee and Contractor Duties

Employees and contracting teams involved in office junk removal and rubbish clearance must follow site rules, use provided personal protective equipment (PPE) and report hazards. All personnel must participate in induction and specific task briefings before work begins. Key duties include adhering to manual handling protocols, segregation of recyclable materials, and observing exclusion zones where required.

Risk Assessment and Control Measures: A documented risk assessment will be completed before each job. Controls follow the hierarchy of risk control: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative actions and PPE. Examples include use of trolleys for heavy loads, mechanical aids for bulky items, and designated collection points to reduce trip hazards during office clearance jobs.

Training and Competence — All staff engaged in commercial clearance and office rubbish removal must receive training in manual handling, safe vehicle loading, hazardous waste identification and basic emergency procedures. Competence is verified through supervised work and periodic refresher sessions.

Operational Controls — Procedures will be established for typical activities: internal office clear-outs, removal of IT equipment, furniture dismantling, and secure handling of sensitive documents. Where confidential documents are present, a secure chain-of-custody and approved disposal method will be implemented. For electronic waste, certified reuse or recycling pathways will be used.

Vehicle and Site Safety — Vehicles used for rubbish collection must be inspected regularly, loaded safely and operated only by authorised drivers. Site-specific conditions will be assessed prior to work; traffic management plans or pedestrian exclusion zones will be used where necessary to protect building occupants and the public.

Hazardous Materials — Where hazardous materials or potentially harmful waste is encountered, work will stop and the item will be isolated. Hazardous waste will be handled by trained personnel and disposed of in accordance with environmental and health and safety regulations. A list of common hazardous items (batteries, solvents, aerosols) is maintained and communicated to staff.

Incident Reporting and Investigation

All accidents, near misses and unsafe conditions discovered during office clearances must be reported promptly. Incidents will be investigated to identify root causes and to implement corrective actions. Records of incidents and remedial actions will be retained and reviewed to identify trends and improve practices.

Monitoring and Review — Health and safety performance will be monitored through audits, workplace inspections and review of incident data. This policy will be reviewed at least annually and updated as necessary to reflect changes in legislation, industry standards or organisational activities, such as additional rubbish removal services or expansion of commercial clearance operations.

Employee Consultation — Staff are encouraged to contribute to safety discussions. Regular toolbox talks, briefings before major clearances and a formal mechanism for raising concerns help ensure that practical insights from those undertaking office clearance work are considered in policy and procedure development.

Standards and Legal Compliance

The organisation will comply with all applicable health and safety and environmental legislation relevant to office clearance and rubbish collection activities. Where statutory standards are exceeded by industry guidance or good practice, those higher standards will be applied where reasonably practicable.

Documentation and Record Keeping — Essential documents include risk assessments, training records, vehicle inspection logs, waste transfer notes and incident reports. These records are kept to enable oversight, regulatory compliance and continual improvement in office clearance and waste handling practices.

Continuous Improvement

Through regular review, staff training and incident analysis, the policy aims to reduce injuries, minimise environmental impact from waste operations and ensure safe, efficient office clearance services. The organisation commits to maintaining a strong safety culture where rubbish removal and commercial clearance work is planned, communicated and executed with safety as the priority.

Acceptance

All employees and contractors are required to read and understand this policy and to confirm acceptance of their duties as part of induction. The policy is supported by detailed procedures and safe systems of work that are made available to all personnel involved in office clearance, waste removal and associated site activities.

Final Statement: Office Clearance Eltham maintains a proactive approach to health and safety in all aspects of office clearing and rubbish removal services. Commitment to safe practice protects people, property and the environment and underpins the quality and reliability of the services provided.