1. General Statement
Van-Go Clearance Ltd is committed to ensuring health, safety and welfare of employees, contractors, Operators, customers and public so far as reasonably practicable, under Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
This policy is for a waste broker arranging services via independent Operators. Our direct employees work mainly in office/home environment, but we have responsibility for coordination and contractor management.
2. Organisation & Responsibilities
- a) Directors: Overall responsibility for H&S, policy, resources, review.
- b) Operations Manager: Day-to-day H&S, Operator vetting, risk assessment, incident reporting.
- c) Employees/Workers: Take reasonable care of own and others safety, cooperate, report hazards.
- d) Operators: Independent contractors responsible for their own H&S, risk assessments, method statements, PPE, vehicle safety, training, insurance. Must comply with law and our Code of Conduct.
3. Risk Assessments
We conduct risk assessments for our own activities (office, lone working, manual handling of samples). Operators must conduct their own site-specific risk assessments for collection, loading, skip delivery, grab hire, including: access, public, overhead cables, underground services, manual handling, sharps, hazardous waste, slips/trips/falls, vehicle movements.
4. Operator Vetting & Competence
All Operators must provide:
- Valid Waste Carrier Licence (CBDU)
- Public Liability Insurance (min £2m) and Employers Liability where staff employed
- Vehicle insurance & MOT
- Confirmation of H&S policy where 5+ employees
- Risk assessment / safe system of work on request
- PPE provision for their staff
We verify EA public register and insurance annually.
5. Safe Systems
- a) Manual Handling: Avoid where possible, use trolleys, team lift, dismantle where needed. Customer responsible for informing of heavy items, stairs, long carry.
- b) Sharps/Hazardous: Operators must not handle asbestos, chemicals, clinical waste unless authorised. Must wear gloves, boots, hi-vis.
- c) Vehicle & Transport: Operators must ensure vehicles roadworthy, loads secure, not overloaded, comply with weight limits, speed limits, use reversing assistant where needed.
- d) Skip & Grab Safety: Customer must ensure firm level ground, 3m width, 3m overhead clearance, 9m straight for skip lorry, 6-8m for grab arm, no soft ground/drains/manhole covers.
- e) Public Safety: Pedestrians, children, pets kept clear. Use barriers where needed.
- f) Lone Working: Office staff lone working — check-in procedure.
6. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Operators responsible for providing their staff with suitable PPE: safety boots, gloves, hi-vis, hard hat where needed, eye protection. Customers advised to keep clear and wear suitable footwear if near loading area.
7. Accidents, Incidents & Near Misses
All accidents/incidents involving our staff or reported by Operators/customers on our jobs must be reported to Directors immediately. RIDDOR reportable incidents reported to HSE. We investigate, record in accident book, review risk assessment and take corrective action.
8. Training
- Office staff: H&S induction, DSE, manual handling awareness, waste duty of care.
- Operators: Must ensure their own staff trained, CSCS where construction sites, CPC for drivers.
9. Consultation
We consult employees on H&S matters. Operators may raise concerns via service@van-goclearance.co.uk.
10. Monitoring & Review
We monitor Operator compliance via feedback, photos, complaints. This policy reviewed annually or after incident. Next review Sept 2027.
Approved by: Directors, Van-Go Clearance Ltd, 07/09/2026