Surrey Man with Van is committed to a proactive and practical Health and Safety Policy that protects employees, contractors, clients and the public while delivering reliable rubbish removal and waste clearance across our service area. This policy sets out the organisation's approach to risk management for all man-and-van rubbish operations, including domestic and commercial rubbish collection, bulky item removal and site clearance activities. The company acknowledges the potential hazards associated with manual handling, vehicle operations, waste types and public interfaces and adopts a prevention-first stance.

Health & Safety Policy for Rubbish and Waste Services

Purpose and application

Scope and Objectives

This policy applies to all staff, temporary workers and subcontractors engaged by Surrey Man with Van when performing waste removal, clearance, rubbish collection or man-and-van transport services within our defined rubbish company service area. Our objectives are to: reduce incidents and injuries; ensure safe vehicle and load management; manage hazardous materials appropriately; and maintain clear procedures for reporting, investigating and learning from incidents.

To achieve these objectives we will carry out regular risk assessments, supply and enforce appropriate PPE, and require safe systems of work. Key principles include avoidance of harm, continual improvement and compliance with applicable health and safety regulations. Management will provide resources to support implementation, and employees are expected to cooperate fully.

Responsibilities and Accountabilities: clear roles ensure consistency. Management will:

- Assess and review operational risks for removal jobs, vehicle movements and team activities.

- Provide training and equipment, maintain vehicles and ensure waste is handled safely. Employees and contractors must follow instructions, report hazards and use protective equipment. Supervisors are responsible for daily checks and ensuring compliance with this policy.

Risk assessment and safe systems of work are the foundation of safe rubbish operations. Each job will be assessed for manual handling risks, trip and fall hazards, traffic interactions and environmental factors. Where necessary a safe working method statement will be prepared. Tasks involving heavy lifting, awkward loads or restricted access must be planned to minimise manual handling and to use mechanical aids where practicable.

Training and competence: all staff receive induction training covering manual handling, vehicle safety, hazardous waste awareness and customer interaction protocols. Refresher training is provided periodically. Competence is assessed through observation and practical assessments; only competent employees are authorised to operate vehicles and equipment for rubbish collection and waste removal.

Personal protective equipment is supplied and must be worn where risks are present. Typical items include high-visibility clothing, gloves suitable for handling waste, safety footwear and eye protection when needed. PPE is maintained and replaced as required, and its use is a condition of employment for operational tasks.

Vehicle safety and load security: Surrey Man with Van maintains a programme of vehicle inspections, routine servicing and security checks. Drivers must ensure loads are safely stowed and secured to prevent spillage and shifting during transit. Vehicles used for waste management must be appropriate for the type of rubbish carried and operated within legal weight and dimension limits.

Waste segregation and hazardous materials: where wastes include hazardous items (batteries, solvents, asbestos suspect materials, electrical goods) these will be segregated and handled in accordance with safe handling procedures. Items that may present a biological or chemical hazard are isolated and escalated to management for specialist disposal. The company will not accept wastes it is not licensed or equipped to handle safely.

Operational checklists and records: teams complete pre- and post-shift checks, job-specific risk assessments and vehicle defect reports. These records support auditing and continuous improvement. Audits and spot checks are used to ensure procedures are followed across the rubbish collection service area.

Incident reporting, investigation and learning: all incidents, near misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported promptly. Investigations are carried out to identify root causes and to implement corrective actions. Findings are communicated to staff to prevent recurrence. A culture of reporting and transparent learning is encouraged, not one of blame.

Emergency procedures and first aid: clear instructions are in place for responding to accidents, spills and vehicle incidents. First aid kits and trained first aiders are available across operational teams. Emergency contacts and escalation routes within the organisation ensure a timely response while mitigating risk to people and the environment.

Monitoring, review and continual improvement: this Health and Safety Policy is reviewed annually or following a significant incident or change in operations. Performance is monitored using key indicators such as incident rates, training completion, audit findings and corrective action closure. Management commits to ongoing investment in safety and expects all staff to contribute to safer rubbish clearance and removal operations across the service area.