Health and Safety Policy — Soho Man with Van Rubbish Services

Soho Man with Van operates a clear, concise and practical health and safety policy for all waste removal and man-and-van operations. This document sets out how we protect staff, customers and the public while delivering efficient rubbish removal and clearance services across our service area. Our commitment is to reduce risk, comply with relevant safety standards and promote a culture where safety is integral to every removal job.

All team members and contractors are expected to follow safe working practices and to wear approved personal protective equipment. The company adopts a risk-based approach: routine job risk assessments are conducted before work begins, and controls are implemented to mitigate manual handling, vehicle and site hazards. Training in safe lifting, correct use of equipment and waste handling is provided to minimise incidents during every man with van Soho collection.

Responsibilities and Roles

Management retains overall responsibility for ensuring safe removal services, while supervisors oversee day-to-day compliance. Drivers and operatives must report hazards and complete pre-shift vehicle checks. Customers using our Soho removal service should provide accurate information about waste type and access constraints so that crews can plan for safety, ensuring that any hazardous or restricted materials are identified and not placed in general rubbish loads.

Risk assessment covers all typical rubbish collection scenarios: household clear-outs, office waste removals, bulky item lifts and site tidy-ups. Assessments identify controls such as manual handling team lifts, use of sack trucks, securing loads within the van and implementing safe routes on site. Where specialist handling is required, the team will recommend licensed disposal or specialist contractors for hazardous or controlled waste streams.

Safe Vehicle Operation and Load Security

All vehicles engaged in man-and-van waste work are maintained to a regular schedule. Drivers perform daily vehicle inspections and check load restraint systems before departure. Secure loading, correct stacking and the use of straps or nets are mandatory to prevent shifting waste in transit. In adverse weather conditions, additional checks are applied to avoid slips, falls and road hazards that might endanger operatives or other road users.

To support operational safety we maintain records of training, vehicle checks and incident reports. The company uses a simple reporting system so that near-misses and hazards can be quickly recorded and addressed. This promotes continuous improvement and ensures that lessons learned are fed back into procedural updates across the rubbish collection operation.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) supplied includes gloves, high-visibility clothing, safety boots and eye protection where necessary. Operatives are instructed to use PPE at all times when handling waste or working near moving vehicles. The policy emphasises that PPE complements, but does not replace, safe systems of work such as two-person lifts for heavy items and mechanical aids for repetitive tasks.

Emergency procedures are set out and rehearsed so that staff know how to respond to incidents, including spillages, fires and medical emergencies. First aid kits are carried in vehicles and operatives are trained to provide initial assistance. In the event of a significant environmental or chemical incident, the company will engage specialist disposal services and notify relevant authorities as required by waste management regulations.

The business promotes a proactive safety culture where staff are encouraged to speak up about hazards and suggest improvements. Regular toolbox talks, refresher training and supervisory checks ensure that every person involved in the job understands their role in safe rubbish removal. The policy also includes practical guidance on working near pedestrians, shared access ways and multi-occupancy buildings to protect the public during collections.

Specific waste types that require extra care are identified in operational briefings: bulky domestic appliances, construction debris, sharp objects and materials that may present biological or chemical risks. If unknown or potentially hazardous items are found, crews stop work and escalate to a supervisor who will assess and if necessary arrange specialist handling. This approach reduces risk and ensures compliant disposal for regulated materials.

Our commitment to environmental protection complements health and safety: safe containment, correct segregation and secure transport of waste lower the risk of pollution incidents and community exposure. Regular audits of load manifests and disposal records provide transparency and accountability for the journey of material from pick-up to authorised transfer stations or recycling facilities.

Key elements of the policy at a glance:

• Clear responsibilities for managers, supervisors and operatives
• Pre-job risk assessments and routine vehicle checks
• PPE and training for safe handling and lifting
• Load security to prevent transit hazards
• Emergency response and incident reporting

Implementation and review are ongoing: the policy is monitored, periodically reviewed and updated to reflect regulatory changes, industry best practice and feedback from operational experience. Supervisors perform regular workplace inspections and management reviews ensure resources are available to maintain safe rubbish removal services and man-and-van operations.

All personnel are expected to familiarise themselves with the policy and to contribute to a safe working environment. Non-compliance is addressed through corrective actions and, where necessary, disciplinary measures to protect everyone involved in the service.

By combining practical measures, staff training and clear leadership, Soho man and van services deliver reliable waste and clearance work while prioritising the health and safety of operatives, customers and the wider public.