Health and Safety Policy — Crystal Palace Man with Van Services

This document sets out the core health and safety policy adopted by Crystal Palace Man with Van and affiliated waste and rubbish removal services. It outlines principles, responsibilities and procedures to ensure that all employees, contractors and members of the public are protected while waste collection, clearance and transport activities are carried out. This policy applies to every operational task and vehicle-based removal work we undertake.

Our commitment is to maintain a safe working environment by identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing controls. All staff engaged in the man and van rubbish collection service must be familiar with this policy and the specific safe working instructions relevant to their duties. Training, supervision and ongoing review are integral elements to reduce incidents and ensure compliance with statutory obligations.

The scope includes domestic and commercial rubbish removal, small-scale clearance projects and load transport in support of waste management. Responsibilities are allocated so that managers ensure safe systems of work, drivers maintain vehicle safety and operatives use correct manual handling techniques. Regular inspections and audits will verify that equipment, vehicles and PPE remain fit for purpose and that waste is handled appropriately to avoid contamination or injury.

Responsibilities and Roles

Management retains overall responsibility for health and safety and for providing adequate resources. Supervisors are responsible for implementing controls on site, while employees are expected to work safely and report hazards. The policy will be communicated to new hires and refreshed during periodic briefings to reinforce expectations.

Employees engaged by the man-and-van rubbish removal operation must:

• Follow safe loading and unloading procedures, securing loads correctly.
• Use provided PPE such as gloves, high-visibility clothing and suitable footwear.
• Report damaged equipment or unsafe conditions promptly.

Failure to comply with safety procedures may result in disciplinary action.

Risk assessments will be carried out for routine and non-routine tasks. These assessments will consider manual handling risks, vehicle movement, uneven surfaces, hazardous items in waste streams (sharps, chemicals, asbestos suspect materials) and public interface during collections. Controls include task planning, appropriate containment, segregation of hazardous items and ensuring vehicles are loaded to safe limits.

Safe Working Practices

Safe working practices for our rubbish removal service include pre-start vehicle checks, use of mechanical aids where feasible and adherence to traffic-management measures during roadside collections. All drivers must have valid licences for the vehicle class they operate and be trained in safe loading procedures to prevent shifting loads and to protect the public and workforce.

Manual handling training is mandatory to reduce musculoskeletal injuries. Staff are encouraged to use trolleys, sack trucks or lifting equipment when moving bulky or heavy items. Where lifting is unavoidable, team lifts must be used and lifts planned to minimize awkward postures. Rest breaks and sensible task rotation are promoted to manage fatigue.

Vehicle maintenance and cleanliness are critical. Vehicles used for rubbish clearance will be inspected routinely for defects, contamination and secure lashing points. Fueling, waste transfer and containment activities will follow safe procedures to prevent spillage and exposure to hazardous substances.

Incident reporting and investigation procedures are established to capture lessons learned and prevent recurrence. All incidents, near misses and unsafe conditions must be reported to a supervisor immediately. Investigations will be proportionate and will focus on root causes and corrective actions to strengthen controls across the rubbish collection and waste removal operations.

Contractors and temporary staff working with our Crystal Palace van rubbish service must comply with this policy and demonstrate competence. Subcontracted teams are required to provide evidence of appropriate training, insurance and safe systems of work before engagement. Ongoing monitoring ensures these standards are maintained during contract performance.

This health and safety policy will be reviewed at least annually and whenever there is a significant change to operations, equipment or legislation affecting waste removal. Continuous improvement is expected: audits, staff feedback and performance metrics will shape updates. By following these principles, the rubbish and waste removal service operated by Crystal Palace man with a van will strive to protect people, property and the environment while delivering effective clearance solutions.