Docklands Man with Van — Health & Safety Policy

Purpose: This Health & Safety policy sets out the standards and procedures that Docklands Man with Van adopts to protect employees, contractors, customers and the public when delivering rubbish removal and man-and-van services. The following policy defines responsibilities, control measures and compliance expectations applicable to all operations involving waste collection, transfer and disposal. It reflects a precautionary approach to risk and a commitment to continual improvement.

Scope: This policy applies to all personnel engaged by Docklands man with van services, whether employed directly, contracted or acting on behalf of the company. The scope includes vehicle operations, manual handling of waste, disposal of domestic and commercial refuse, and temporary storage of collected material. It covers both routine rubbish collection and one-off clearance jobs under the man and van rubbish remit.

Legal compliance: The company will comply with applicable health and safety legislation and relevant environmental regulations. Management will ensure that statutory duties are met and that records of risk assessments, training and incident reports are maintained. All staff must cooperate with lawful instructions designed to keep people safe and to ensure proper handling and lawful disposal of collected waste.

Responsibilities: Senior management is accountable for policy implementation, provision of resources and monitoring performance. Supervisors and drivers must apply safe systems of work and report hazards immediately. Individual employees are required to follow procedures, attend training and use issued personal protective equipment (PPE). Non-compliance with safety procedures will be managed in accordance with the company disciplinary process if necessary.

Risk assessments will be completed for routine and non-routine tasks, including vehicle loading/unloading, handling bulky items, dealing with hazardous materials and working at or near customer premises. Assessments will identify controls to remove or minimise risks, such as mechanical aids, safe lifting techniques, operational checklists and segregation of hazardous waste.

Training and competence: Personnel will receive induction training on safe working practices and specific instruction for duties they perform. Refresher training and toolbox talks will be provided periodically. Training records will be kept current, and employees will be assessed for competence before undertaking unsupervised work. The company will ensure drivers are qualified and medically fit to operate man-and-van vehicles.

Controls will include vehicle safety checks, secure loading procedures, use of PPE such as gloves, hi-vis clothing and safety footwear, and protocols for segregating recyclable materials and hazardous items. Clear job briefings are required for each shift and for complex removal jobs to ensure everyone understands their role and the safety precautions in place. The company maintains a safe driving policy to reduce the risk of road incidents during rubbish collection.

Specific measures for rubbish collection activities include:

• Pre-job site surveys to identify access issues and hazards.
• Clear exclusion zones when lifting or manoeuvring bulky waste.
• Procedures for dealing with sharps, chemical containers and other hazardous wastes.

These measures are part of our standard operating procedures and will be reviewed after incidents or near-misses.

Equipment and maintenance: All vehicles and lifting equipment will be inspected and maintained to a safe standard. Faults that may affect safety will be reported and rectified before work continues. The company will ensure that waste carrying capacity is not exceeded and that loads are secured to prevent shifting during transit.

Incident reporting and investigation: Any accident, near-miss or dangerous occurrence must be reported immediately through the designated reporting procedure. Investigations will be undertaken to identify root causes and to implement remedial actions to prevent recurrence. Records of incidents and corrective actions will be retained as part of the compliance documentation.

Emergency procedures cover first aid, fire response, spill response and dealing with hazardous materials encountered during rubbish clearance. Key elements include rapid communication, evacuation protocols when necessary and liaison with emergency services. Employees are expected to familiarise themselves with these procedures and to participate in any required drills.

Monitoring, review and continual improvement: Docklands man-and-van operations will be monitored through planned inspections, audits and performance metrics. Management will review this policy annually or sooner if legislative or operational changes demand it. Feedback from staff and contractors will be considered to strengthen safety outcomes. The objective is to reduce incidents and to deliver safe, compliant rubbish removal services.

Health and wellbeing: The company recognises that employee wellbeing affects safety. Measures include fatigue management for drivers, access to Occupational Health where appropriate and procedures to manage manual handling to reduce musculoskeletal injury risks. Employees are encouraged to report health concerns that may affect safe performance.

Waste segregation and environmental protection: All waste will be handled in accordance with environmental obligations. Recyclables will be separated where feasible, and hazardous items will be managed through authorised disposal routes. The company seeks to minimise environmental impact while maintaining safe operations during collections and clearances.

Policy acceptance: This document represents our formal Health & Safety statement for Docklands Man with Van and related rubbish services. It is issued and endorsed by management and is binding on all personnel operating under the company’s control. Continuous adherence to this policy is an essential condition of employment or contract with the company.