Health & Safety Policy — Queens Park Man with Van

Queens Park Man with Van is committed to maintaining a safe working environment for staff, subcontractors and the public during all removal, rubbish collection and waste clearance activities. This policy applies to all operations carried out under the Queens Park man and van banner, including ad-hoc collections, scheduled clearances and on-site loading tasks. The purpose of this document is to set out responsibilities, safe systems of work and the controls used to reduce harm and environmental impact across the service area.

The scope covers vehicle loading and unloading, manual handling, use of tools and equipment, site housekeeping and interaction with third parties where the Queens Park rubbish removal service operates. Management will ensure that risk assessments are regularly reviewed, that employees receive appropriate training, and that safe working practices are consistently followed. All personnel are required to familiarise themselves with this policy and to report hazards or near-misses immediately to their line manager.

The organisation acknowledges its duty to comply with relevant health and safety expectations, ensuring safe systems to control risks associated with the man-and-van service. Key principles include maintaining vehicles in a roadworthy condition, securing loads to prevent spillage, and preventing unauthorised access to work areas. Any variation such as a specialist waste uplift is treated with the same rigorous controls as standard Queens Park waste clearance work.

Responsibilities are allocated clearly: senior management is accountable for policy implementation and resourcing; supervisors must enforce procedures on-site; and employees are expected to work safely, use provided personal protective equipment (PPE) and attend scheduled safety briefings. Training covers manual handling techniques, safe use of lifting aids, traffic management when operating near roads and emergency response. Records of training and competency checks for drivers and loaders will be maintained.

Risk assessment is central to this policy. Routine assessments are undertaken before jobs commence and whenever conditions change. Assessments consider hazards such as hazardous materials, sharps, unstable loads, uneven ground and adverse weather conditions. Control measures include segregation of hazardous items, use of mechanical aids to reduce manual handling, clear exclusion zones during loading, and a traffic marshal when operations are close to public thoroughfares. The Queens Park man-and-van service uses a permit-like checklist for higher-risk tasks.

Equipment and vehicle safety measures include pre-shift checks, secure storage of tools, and routine maintenance schedules. Electrical equipment is PAT-tested where applicable, and hand tools are inspected before use. Waste receptacles and sacks are chosen to match the type of material and the load method to prevent overloading. Where specialist disposal is required, materials are segregated for lawful transfer to authorised facilities under the company’s waste handling arrangements.

The company enforces health controls to reduce exposure to dust, biohazards and contaminants. PPE is provided and must be used as directed — high-visibility clothing, gloves appropriate to the material handled, safety footwear and respirators when assessments deem them necessary. Vaccination or health surveillance advice is provided for roles with potential exposure to biological material. Employees are advised to report health concerns promptly; occupational health support will be facilitated where needed.

Emergency procedures are in place and include first aid provision, incident reporting, and clear arrangements for dealing with spills or fires. A named first aider is available on most shifts, and all incidents are recorded, investigated and reviewed for corrective action. Continuous improvement is achieved by analysing incident trends and revising controls, training or resources where weaknesses are identified.

Monitoring and review of this policy are ongoing. Regular site audits, vehicle inspections and periodic reviews of risk assessments ensure the policy remains effective and up to date. Workers are encouraged to contribute suggestions to improve safety culture. Non-compliance with safety procedures is addressed through retraining or disciplinary measures when appropriate. This Health and Safety policy is a living document that supports delivery of a professional, safe and reliable Queens Park man with van operation committed to protecting people and property while responsibly managing waste.