Health and Safety Policy — St Johns Wood Man with Van

St Johns Wood Man with Van is committed to protecting the health, safety and welfare of its employees, contractors and members of the public affected by our rubbish removal and man-and-van services. This policy sets out our approach to controlling risks associated with collection, loading, transport and disposal of waste across our service area. It applies to all staff, temporary workers and any subcontractors retained to support our removal service. We operate a rubbish company model that prioritises safe working methods, suitable equipment and clear responsibility for safety outcomes.

Our core objectives are to prevent injury and ill health, to maintain compliance with applicable safety requirements, and to ensure that every job is planned and executed with safety as the first priority. Roles and responsibilities are defined so everyone understands what is expected: managers will ensure adequate systems and resources; supervisors must enforce safe systems of work; and employees are required to follow procedures and report hazards. This policy is reviewed regularly and updated when operational changes or legislative developments require.

To implement these objectives we adopt a structured approach to risk control. Key elements include:

• Risk assessment prior to work commencement, identifying hazards from manual handling, vehicle movement and waste types.
• Safe systems of work and method statements for collections, clear guidance for bulky item handling, and separation of recyclable and non-recyclable materials.
• PPE and equipment maintained in good condition: hi-vis, gloves, safety boots, and suitable lifting aids for heavy or awkward loads.

Risk Management and Safe Systems of Work

All collection tasks are planned with traffic management and site-specific constraints in mind. Vehicle safety checks are conducted daily and logged, ensuring the man with a van fleet remains roadworthy and secure for transporting mixed domestic and commercial waste. Drivers and loaders receive training in defensive driving and loading stability to prevent spillage, shifting loads or load-related incidents. We emphasise safe access and egress from vehicles and the use of designated unloading areas where possible to minimise interaction with pedestrians and other road users.

Training and competence underpin our operations. Staff receive instruction in manual handling techniques, safe lifting, and the use of mechanical aids. Where waste streams include potentially hazardous items (small quantities of chemicals, electricals, or contaminated materials), we require segregation, containment and referral to approved disposal routes. Employees are empowered to stop work if they identify a risk that cannot be controlled with the resources at hand, and to escalate the issue through the line management structure.

We enforce procedures for handling bulky waste and fly-tipped materials, recognising that these can present hidden risks such as sharp objects, biological contamination or unstable loads. Routine inspections of storage areas and vehicle load spaces help identify deterioration, debris build-up and other hazards. Maintenance schedules for lifting equipment, tail lifts and securing straps are documented and followed to reduce the likelihood of mechanical failure. Frequent toolbox talks reinforce safety messages and refresh training in line with changing operational demands.

Monitoring, Review and Legal Compliance

Incident reporting, investigation and corrective action are integral to continuous improvement. All incidents, near misses and dangerous occurrences are recorded, and root-cause analysis is used to prevent recurrence. We maintain first aid provisions appropriate to the workforce and ensure emergency procedures are understood by all staff. Insurance and appropriate licences for waste transport are kept up to date, and where subcontractors are used we assess their safety arrangements before engagement.

Employee involvement is key: we consult staff on safety matters and encourage suggestions to improve procedures. Responsibilities include keeping work areas tidy, using PPE correctly, following safe loading patterns and adhering to traffic management controls. Supervisors check competency, and performance is measured through safety KPIs including vehicle checks completed, training completion rates and the number of reported near-misses.

This policy also recognises the company's duty to minimise environmental harm as part of the rubbish collection and removal service. Waste segregation, recycling prioritisation and correct disposal routes are embedded in operational practices. The policy will be reviewed at least annually, or sooner if there are significant changes in operations or legislation. It is the responsibility of senior management to ensure resources are provided to achieve the policy aims and for the workforce to cooperate in keeping our environment safe.

Commitment statement: We, as the leadership of St Johns Wood Man with Van, commit to implementing and maintaining this Health and Safety Policy so that it remains effective and relevant. All employees and contractors must familiarise themselves with the content and act in accordance with the measures described. Regular audits, training refreshers and open communication will support the safe delivery of man with van and rubbish removal services across the service area.

Signed: Management Team — Policy owner: Operations Manager. Date: (reviewed and updated as required).