Health & Safety Policy — Finsbury Park Man with Van Operations

This document sets out the Health and Safety Policy for our Finsbury Park Man with Van service. It is intended to communicate clear standards for safe working, risk control and compliance across all rubbish removal and man-and-van operations. The policy applies to every member of staff, contractors and any personnel representing the rubbish company service area while performing loading, transportation and disposal activities. Our objective is to prevent injury, protect health and ensure consistent safe systems of work while delivering efficient, reliable man with van and rubbish clearance services.

All employees are required to take reasonable care for their own safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. The company will provide the necessary information, instruction and supervision, and will ensure that personnel operating in a man-and-van capacity receive training relevant to safe manual handling, vehicle operation and waste segregation. Risk assessments will be recorded and reviewed regularly, and control measures will be implemented to reduce exposure to hazards encountered in general rubbish removal, bulky waste handling and site access challenges.

Managers and team leaders in the Finsbury Park man-and-van service area are accountable for enforcing safe working procedures and for ensuring that all tasks have been planned and assessed before work begins. Supervisors must ensure staff use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), that lifting techniques conform to safe manual handling standards, and that vehicles are loaded to maintain safe weight distribution. The company will supply suitable gloves, high-visibility clothing, and other PPE as required for rubbish collection and disposal tasks.

Risk Management, Training and Communication

Training is a core element of our safety culture. All crew members operating a man with van in Finsbury Park or servicing the wider rubbish company service area will undergo induction training and periodic refreshers that cover hazard recognition, manual handling, safe use of trolleys and sack trucks, vehicle securement and incident reporting. Training records will be maintained centrally and reviewed at regular intervals to ensure competency is current and matched to the task profile.

The company will maintain a formal risk assessment programme that identifies common and site-specific hazards including slips, trips and falls, vehicle movements, manual handling injuries, exposure to sharps and hazardous waste, and risks from working at kerbsides or on uneven surfaces. Control measures include safe route planning, cordoning of work areas where appropriate, use of mechanical aids, and clear communication protocols between driver and loader. Where unknown or potentially hazardous materials are encountered during clearances, work will stop and the item will be isolated until it can be safely assessed.

To support these measures the policy sets out the following specific responsibilities and systems:

• Safe vehicle operation: daily vehicle checks, proper securement of loads and regular maintenance;
• Manual handling controls: team lifts, use of equipment and limits on single-person lifts for heavy or awkward items;
• Waste segregation and handling: classification and separation of recyclable materials, inert waste, and potential hazardous items to minimise environmental and health risks;
• Incident reporting: immediate notification of accidents, near misses and property damage with follow-up investigation and remedial action.

Operational Controls, Monitoring and Continuous Improvement

Operational controls are implemented to align everyday rubbish collection and man-and-van work with this policy. Drivers and operative teams will use route risk profiles to identify pinch points, restricted access and parking constraints that could increase exposure to harm. Pre-job briefings are mandatory for non-routine clearances and bulky waste jobs. The company will periodically audit operations to verify compliance and will take corrective actions where deficits are found.

Emergency arrangements include clear procedures for first aid, breakdowns and dealing with hazardous finds. First aid kits are available in vehicles, and at least one trained first aider will be present on larger or higher risk jobs. In the event of a major incident the on-duty manager will enact the incident management plan and ensure external emergency services are contacted where appropriate. Employees are encouraged to report hazards promptly through designated reporting channels so the rubbish company can adapt controls and prevent recurrence.

Monitoring and review are essential. The company will undertake planned audits, toolbox talks and safety observations to measure the effectiveness of our controls and to capture practical feedback from front-line staff. Performance indicators such as accident frequency, near-miss reports and training completion rates will be used to focus continuous improvement. This policy will be reviewed annually or sooner if legislative changes, new risks or operational changes require an update. Commitment to maintaining a safe working environment underpins all aspects of our man with van and rubbish clearance services and is integral to the way we operate.