Company van and crew preparing for rubbish collection

Health & Safety Policy — Dulwich Man with Van

Dulwich Man with Van is committed to providing a safe working environment for employees, contractors and members of the public in the course of rubbish removal and waste collection activities. This policy defines responsibilities, safe systems of work and the standards we apply across our service area to reduce risk, prevent injury and protect property and the environment. All staff and operatives are required to adhere to this policy and to report hazards or unsafe practice immediately. Safety is a core business priority and is integrated into daily operations for every man and van rubbish clearance task undertaken.

Responsibilities and Accountability

The successful implementation of this health and safety policy depends on clear responsibilities at every level. Management will ensure there are adequate resources, training and supervision for safe rubbish removal operations. Supervisors and drivers must conduct pre-shift checks and enforce safe working practices. Employees and subcontractors engaged in rubbish collection in Dulwich must follow procedures, use provided personal protective equipment and report incidents. Everyone has a duty to cooperate and to stop work if a task cannot be carried out safely until an appropriate control is in place.

Two women in a bright, modern kitchen during a house move are smiling and holding a large cardboard box together. The woman on the left has long, light brown hair and is wearing a pink-checkered shirt, while the woman on the right has blonde hair tied back with a pink headband and is dressed in a light blue tank top. Behind them, there are several unopened cardboard boxes stacked on a countertop, some open with packing materials visible. The kitchen features white cabinets, a stainless steel sink, and a window with horizontal blinds, allowing natural light to fill the space. The scene suggests a friendly, organized move, with Dulwich Man with Van’s professional removal services potentially involved in handling household items such as boxes, kitchenware, and personal belongings in a suburban property near Dulwich, London, with a postcode inferred to be SE21 or SW2. The focus is on the preparatory stage of a domestic removal, emphasizing the care and professionalism of the team.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

We carry out dynamic and formal risk assessments for all man and van rubbish service activities. Assessments identify specific hazards associated with lifting, loading, vehicle movements and waste types. Controls will be implemented using the hierarchy of control and documented for routine and non-routine tasks. Key hazards include:

Manual handling and musculoskeletal injuries from lifting bulky items
Vehicle movement and load security risks during transit
Exposure to hazardous substances such as chemicals, asbestos fragments or sharps
Slips, trips and falls during collection or clearance operations

Training, Competence and Personal Protective Equipment

All staff receive induction training that covers safe lifting techniques, segregation of waste streams, use of appropriate tools and correct use of PPE. Competence is maintained through refresher training, toolbox talks and assessment. The company provides suitable PPE including gloves, hi‑vis clothing, safety boots and respiratory protection when required. Managers must ensure operatives are both competent and confident to perform clearance tasks safely and to recognise when specialist disposal is required for hazardous waste.

Two individuals, a man and a woman, are engaged in a house removal inside a bright, modern residence with white walls and large windows that allow natural light to flood the space. The man, dressed in a light blue T-shirt, is carrying a medium-sized cardboard box, while the woman, wearing a pink plaid shirt, is ascending a curved, white-painted staircase holding a larger cardboard box. The staircase features a smooth, white banister and steps made of polished material, possibly wood or stone. In the background, an open, airy area includes a spacious corridor with an arched doorway leading to other rooms or the exterior, suggesting the house is situated in a residential area typical of Dulwich or nearby South London locations. The scene conveys a professional removals process, with the focus on safely transporting household belongings, including boxes of various sizes, within a contemporary home environment. The natural light and clean aesthetic reflect an organized and careful approach typical of Dulwich Man with Van's house removal services in the South London region.

Operations and Vehicle Safety

Vehicles are maintained to a high standard and daily pre-use checks are mandatory for every man and van unit. Load restraint, correct weight distribution and secure containment of rubbish are enforced to prevent shifting loads and spillage. Routine vehicle safety measures include:

Daily walkaround checks of lights, brakes and load restraint
Correct use of tail lifts, ramps and securing straps
Safe reversing procedures and use of banksmen where visibility is restricted

Drivers must not operate if a vehicle defect compromises safety and must report defects immediately for remedial action.

Waste Handling and Hazardous Materials

Waste segregation and correct handling are essential to minimise harm and environmental impact. The company has procedures to identify and isolate hazardous items and to escalate to licensed disposal routes when necessary. Staff must never assume an item is non-hazardous; when in doubt, cease handling and seek guidance. Controls include use of puncture‑resistant gloves, spill kits, and labelled containment for suspect materials. Specialist hazardous waste is dealt with using authorised carriers and compliant disposal facilities to meet regulatory expectations and to protect operatives and the public.

Incident Reporting, First Aid and Emergency Procedures

All incidents, near misses and health concerns must be reported promptly to management. We maintain first aid provisions appropriate to the risks encountered on rubbish clearance activities and ensure relevant staff are first aid trained. Emergency procedures cover vehicle incidents, spills, fires and medical emergencies. Incident investigations identify root causes and ensure corrective actions are implemented to prevent recurrence. Continuous learning from incidents supports safer rubbish clearance and man & van operations.

A middle-aged woman with long, wavy blonde hair, wearing a white long-sleeved top and light grey trousers, stands in a well-lit domestic interior surrounded by open cardboard moving boxes, some containing household items, with a potted green houseplant on top of one box. To her right, a young man with short dark hair, dressed in a white shirt and light-colored trousers, is smiling while holding a large empty picture frame. Behind them, large windows with white frames and lace curtains reveal a view of a snow-covered suburban street. The floor appears to be wooden, and the wall is painted a light, neutral colour, creating a bright and welcoming atmosphere typical of a house preparing for a move. The scene captures the moment of packing and organization during a home relocation process, with visible household items, boxes, and packing equipment, reflecting a professional house removal service in South London, close to Dulwich.

Contractors, Subcontractors and Visitor Management

Where external contractors or temporary workers are used, Dulwich Man with Van will verify competence, insurance and health & safety arrangements before work begins. Contractors must operate under the company’s safety standards and co‑operate with site rules. Key management controls include:

Pre‑qualification checks and documentation review
Site induction and confirmation of required PPE
Communication of specific hazards and permit requirements for non‑routine tasks

Subcontractors are expected to report incidents and to provide safe plant and equipment consistent with this policy.

Two women, one younger and one older, are seated on the floor in a room with a plain white background. The younger woman has long brown hair and is dressed in a light blue blouse and patterned trousers, with a relaxed posture leaning on a large cardboard box placed to her left. The older woman has long blonde hair, wearing a white shirt and dark trousers, smiling gently with her right arm resting on her head and her left hand on her knee. Several cardboard boxes of various sizes are arranged around them, some stacked, and the boxes are plain brown with no visible markings. The scene appears to be in a residential setting, possibly during a house move or packing process, aligning with the services offered by Dulwich Man with Van, a local house removals company serving the Dulwich area. The lighting is bright and evenly distributed, emphasizing the clean and organized environment typical of a professional house removals operation in South London.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

This policy is regularly reviewed and updated in response to operational change, incidents, legislation and best practice in the waste and rubbish removal sector. Performance is monitored through audits, inspections and key performance indicators related to safety observations and incident rates. Management will take corrective and preventive action where deficiencies are identified. Commitment to continuous improvement ensures that safety standards evolve with the business and that the man and van rubbish removal teams operate to a consistently high standard. By adhering to these principles, Dulwich Man with Van affirms its dedication to protecting people, property and the environment across its rubbish clearance and collection operations.