Health and Safety Policy — Ruislip Man with Van Services

Purpose: This Health and Safety Policy sets out the commitment of Ruislip Man with Van and associated rubbish removal teams to protect the health, safety and welfare of employees, contractors, customers and the public. The policy covers all aspects of man and van operations including waste collection, removal, skip alternatives and light clearance. It is designed to be clear, practical and proportionate to the scale of the business while reflecting relevant statutory duties and industry best practice.

Scope and Responsibilities

All staff, temporary workers and subcontractors engaged by the removal company must comply with this policy. Line managers have a duty to ensure safe working methods are used and that health and safety instructions are followed. Employees are expected to work safely, report hazards and cooperate with reasonable controls. The company will provide relevant training and resources and will review arrangements periodically to maintain standards.

Risk Assessment and Control Measures

Risk assessments are carried out for routine tasks performed by the man and van team, including manual handling, driving, loading and unloading, working at kerbsides and dealing with mixed household or commercial rubbish. Where risks are identified, control measures such as mechanical aids, two-person lifting, safe stacking, secure strapping and appropriate vehicle selection will be used to reduce risk to an acceptable level. All assessments are recorded and updated when tasks change.

Vehicles and equipment are maintained to ensure safety and reliability. All vans are subject to scheduled maintenance and daily pre-start checks; records are kept and defects are reported immediately. Drivers and operatives receive instruction in vehicle loading limits, securing loads, and relevant traffic regulations. The business enforces safe working hours and rest periods to prevent fatigue-related incidents while providing rubbish removal and clearance services.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Appropriate PPE must be worn on site and in transit where risk assessments indicate: hi-visibility clothing, gloves, steel-toe boots, dust masks and eye protection. PPE is provided free of charge and employees are required to care for and replace items as necessary. Training covers correct selection and use of PPE; supervisors will monitor compliance and address non-conformance.

Hazardous Materials and Waste Segregation The company recognises the additional risks presented by hazardous items found during clearances, such as batteries, solvents, asbestos-containing materials and sharps. Such items will not be handled by untrained staff and will be segregated and disposed of in accordance with regulations. Where specialist removal is required, authorised contractors will be engaged. A clear reporting process ensures that hazardous finds are recorded and managed.

Training and competency are essential. All staff receive induction training that covers manual handling, safe lifting techniques, vehicle safety, basic first aid and incident reporting. Refresher training and task-specific instruction are provided regularly. The company maintains records of training and qualifications to ensure operatives are competent to carry out rubbish collection and removal tasks safely.

Accident reporting and investigation is taken seriously. Any accident, incident, near-miss or dangerous occurrence must be reported immediately to a manager. Investigations will identify root causes and prompt corrective actions to prevent recurrence. Records of incidents and remedial actions are kept to inform ongoing risk management and continuous improvement of safety practices.

Safe systems of work include job briefs before starting non-routine tasks, confirmation of access and egress points, and communication protocols for working near public thoroughfares. Where work takes place on or near carriageways, temporary traffic management and warning signage are used to protect operatives and the public. Emergency procedures are in place for fire, vehicle incidents, medical emergencies and environmental spillages.

Health Surveillance and Wellbeing

The company promotes a positive health culture. Where work activities present specific health risks, appropriate health surveillance is provided. Workers are encouraged to report health concerns and to seek support for occupational or work-related conditions. Mental health awareness and support resources are included in wellbeing initiatives.

Contractor management ensures that third parties engaged to assist with removals meet the same health and safety expectations. Contractors must present evidence of appropriate insurance, training and risk assessment documentation before being permitted to work. The business reserves the right to suspend contractors who do not meet safety requirements.

Policy Review and Continuous Improvement

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed at least annually and whenever there are significant changes to work methods, equipment or legislation. The aim is to continually improve safety performance through feedback, audits, and learning from incidents. The management team is committed to providing the necessary resources to implement this policy and to ensure that rubbish clearance and waste collection services are carried out safely, responsibly and sustainably.