Health and Safety Policy for Merton Man with Van

Merton Man with Van operates a clear and practical Health and Safety Policy designed to protect employees, customers and the public during all removal, clearance and waste-related operations. This policy applies across our rubbish company service area and to every activity carried out by the team, including man-and-van collections, household clearances and commercial waste removal. The aim is to reduce risk, comply with legal obligations and deliver services safely and reliably. Safety is a core value and is embedded in daily routines and decision-making.

Our policy sets out responsibilities at all levels. Managers and supervisors are required to ensure safe systems of work, provide appropriate resources and carry out regular risk assessments. Employees and contractors must follow safe working practices, use issued personal protective equipment and report hazards promptly. The policy covers vehicles, equipment, manual handling, traffic management and interactions at customer premises within our service area for rubbish removal and waste clearance.

The approach taken by this man with van service includes documented procedures for common hazards. Risk assessments are completed and reviewed for typical activities such as lifting bulky items, removing waste from tight access points and loading vehicles. Control measures include task planning, team lifting where necessary, the use of mechanical aids and segregation of recyclable materials. We maintain records of assessments, actions and reviews to ensure continuous improvement and accountability.

The policy covers all operations performed by our Merton man and van teams across the defined rubbish removal and waste clearance service area. We commit to: preventing injury, protecting health, reducing environmental impact and ensuring compliance with applicable legislation and codes of practice. This includes the safe transport of waste, proper storage of hazardous items and ensuring vehicles are maintained to a safe standard.

Responsibilities are allocated as follows:

• Management: develop policy, provide training, review performance.
• Supervisors: implement controls, supervise work, carry out inspections.
• Staff: follow procedures, wear PPE, report incidents.

We emphasise communication with customers to identify access issues, potential hazards and any special requirements before arrival. Clear pre-job checks and briefings help reduce incidents and ensure the man-with-a-van team delivers safe rubbish removal services every time.

Risk assessment is central to our operations. Typical controls include safe lifting training, use of sack trucks and load-securing techniques. Vehicles are fitted and maintained for secure transport of materials and appropriate signage is used where needed. We implement traffic management on site to protect operatives and members of the public when working near roads or in confined spaces.

Employees receive training that covers manual handling, hazardous materials awareness and the safe use of equipment. Training records are kept up to date and refresher sessions are scheduled regularly. New starters and temporary staff are inducted on these procedures before commencing work to ensure consistency across the workforce and throughout our rubbish removal service area.

PPE is provided where risk assessments identify its need. This includes gloves, high-visibility clothing, safety footwear and protective eyewear. The correct selection, use and maintenance of PPE is overseen by supervisors and forms part of daily safety checks on vehicles and equipment.

Special attention is given to hazardous waste and restricted materials. The company has procedures to identify, segregate and, where necessary, refuse to accept items that present a significant health or environmental risk, such as asbestos-containing materials or certain chemical wastes. When such items are encountered unexpectedly, work is paused and managers are notified to determine the safest course of action that complies with regulatory requirements.

Incident reporting and investigation are mandatory. All accidents, near misses and unsafe conditions must be reported promptly. Investigations identify root causes and corrective actions, and findings are shared with the team to prevent recurrence. We track safety performance through key metrics and internal audits to verify compliance and effectiveness across our man with van operations.

Monitoring and continual improvement are embedded in our safety culture. Policies and procedures are reviewed regularly, and changes to legislation, equipment or service offerings trigger a reassessment of risks. Employees are encouraged to contribute suggestions and participate in safety meetings so the policy evolves with operational needs and delivers reliable rubbish collection and clearance services throughout the service area.