Health and Safety Policy — Sutton Man with Van Services

Sutton Man with Van is committed to protecting the health, safety and welfare of our employees, contractors, clients and the public during all aspects of rubbish removal, waste collection and man-and-van operations. This policy outlines our approach to managing risks, ensuring safe working practices and maintaining legal compliance across our service area. The purpose of this document is to set clear expectations and to describe the systems and responsibilities that support safe, professional waste and rubbish collection operations.

Policy Statement

We will take all reasonably practicable steps to prevent personal injury, ill health and environmental harm arising from our activities. Our commitment covers planning, risk assessment, provision of suitable equipment and training, and continual monitoring. Health and safety considerations are embedded in contracts, vehicle checks, manual handling and on-site decision-making so that every removal job is delivered with due care.

The scope of this policy covers all roles involved in man with van Sutton operations including drivers, loaders, waste handlers and office staff. Key responsibilities include:

• Senior management: maintain overall responsibility for health and safety governance and resource allocation.
• Supervisors and team leads: ensure safe systems of work are implemented and followed.
• Employees and operatives: follow procedures, report hazards and use issued PPE correctly.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

All rubbish removal activities, from small household clearances to commercial waste carriage, are subject to risk assessments that identify hazards such as manual handling, traffic interaction, sharps, hazardous waste and uneven ground. Control measures are proportionate to the risk and may include task redesign, use of mechanical aids, exclusion zones and clear communication. Our safe systems of work are documented and reviewed regularly to reflect changing conditions and lessons learned.

Vehicle and equipment safety are central to man with van Sutton operations. Vehicles are serviced and inspected to a scheduled programme; load restraint and safe loading techniques are mandatory. Operatives are trained in vehicle checks, correct use of tail lifts and securement of loads to prevent shifting during transit. For rubbish collection and waste disposal we enforce segregation rules and ensure that potentially hazardous materials are identified, separated and handled in line with regulations for Sutton rubbish removal services.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is provided and its use is enforced where risks are present. This includes hi-vis clothing, gloves suitable for handling waste, safety footwear and eye protection where needed. We emphasise manual handling best practice and encourage the use of trolleys, sack trucks and mechanical lifts to reduce strain and injury. Safe manual handling practices form part of mandatory training for all operatives.

Training, competence and supervision are ongoing priorities. New staff receive induction training that covers health and safety policy, emergency procedures and incident reporting. Refresher and task-specific training is provided as required for waste segregation, asbestos awareness, sharps management and first aid. We maintain records of training and assess competence before authorising tasks that involve higher risk.

Incident reporting, investigation and corrective action ensure continuous improvement. All accidents, near-misses and dangerous occurrences are reported promptly, recorded and investigated to identify root causes and to implement corrective measures. We use findings to update risk assessments and to communicate learnings across the team. Emergency procedures, including first aid provision and procedures for handling hazardous waste spills, are clearly documented and practiced periodically.

Monitoring, review and legal compliance form the backbone of our governance approach. We conduct regular audits, safety inspections and performance reviews to verify that controls are effective and that legal obligations are met. This includes adherence to waste transfer requirements, duty of care for waste, and transport safety standards relevant to a man-and-van rubbish service. Where external law or guidance changes, the policy and associated procedures are updated without delay.

Our environmental and community responsibilities are integral to how we operate. Sutton waste removal tasks are planned to minimise impacts such as noise, dust and local disruption. We promote recycling and responsible disposal, contracting with licensed facilities where required. Where customer premises include sensitive environments, additional controls are applied to protect occupants and neighbouring properties.

Key commitments:

• Provide and maintain plant, vehicles and equipment that are safe and fit for purpose.
• Ensure competent personnel are available for all operations and that they are properly trained.
• Identify and control hazards through risk assessment and active supervision.
• Report, investigate and learn from incidents to prevent recurrence.
• Comply with applicable health, safety and environmental legislation and good practice for rubbish collection Sutton-wide operations.

Implementation of this policy is the responsibility of management and everyone engaged in our man with van operations. We expect all staff to work in a way that protects themselves and others, to challenge unsafe acts and to contribute to an open safety culture. This policy is reviewed at least annually and whenever there are significant changes to our operations, personnel or applicable legal requirements.