Health and Safety Policy — Skip Hire Surbiton

Scope: This policy sets out the health and safety principles and controls applied by our skip hire and rubbish collection operations. It applies to all staff, contractors and anyone working on behalf of the waste collection service and related skip hire activities. The aim is to prevent injury, ill health and environmental harm associated with waste handling, site operations and vehicle movements.

Policy Statement and Objectives

We will conduct skip hire services, rubbish removal and waste management activities in a manner that protects people, property and the environment. Our objectives are to: maintain legal compliance; identify and control risks; provide appropriate training and equipment; and continually improve safety performance. All employees, including drivers and operatives engaged in bin hire, are expected to follow procedures and report hazards or incidents without delay.

Responsibilities

• Management: establish safe systems, provide resources, maintain vehicles and equipment, ensure risk assessments and audits are completed.
• Supervisors: enforce safe work practices, coordinate site safety, supervise contractors and ensure inductions are given.
• Employees and Operatives: comply with controls, use PPE, follow manual handling protocols and report defects or hazards.
• Safety Officer: maintain documentation, lead investigations, deliver training and monitor regulatory changes affecting skip hire services.

Risk Assessment and Control Measures

All waste collection and skip hire activities are subject to recorded risk assessments, including but not limited to: manual handling of heavy items, handling of sharp or hazardous materials, vehicle loading and unloading, site traffic management, and working at or near public thoroughfares. Controls include exclusion zones around skips, delegated banksman duties during reversing, and use of mechanical aids where practicable.

Personal Protective Equipment and Training Personnel engaged in rubbish removal, skip placement or bin hire operations must wear appropriate PPE: high-visibility clothing, safety boots, gloves suitable for waste streams, eye protection and respiratory protection where dust or fumes are expected. Training programmes cover safe lifting, segregation of waste, hazardous materials awareness, vehicle safety and first aid. Refresher training will be scheduled periodically and whenever processes change.

Vehicle and Plant Safety Vehicles used for skip delivery and waste collection must be maintained to a safe standard and inspected pre-shift. Drivers must comply with load restraint procedures, licensing requirements and safe driving standards. Mechanical plant and lifting equipment used to place or retrieve skip containers will be operated only by trained, competent personnel and will be subject to routine maintenance and record-keeping.

Hazardous and Controlled Waste Waste classification protocols are in place to ensure that hazardous or controlled waste streams are identified and managed correctly. Items such as asbestos-containing materials, batteries, solvents and compressed gas cylinders must be segregated and handled according to statutory requirements. Where specialist disposal or contractor engagement is required, work will be planned to minimise risk and ensure regulatory traceability.

Site Management, Public Safety and Traffic Skip placement and rubbish collection frequently occur near public areas. Traffic management measures, including signing, cones and temporary barriers, will be used as required to protect operatives and the public. Work sites will be assessed for pedestrian flow, visibility, underground services and access control. We will not place skips where they create an unreasonable hazard without prior mitigation.

Incident Reporting and Emergency Procedures All incidents, near misses and safety concerns must be reported immediately through the company reporting system. A formal investigation will determine root causes and corrective actions. Emergency procedures, including spill response, fire, first aid and evacuation plans, are maintained and communicated. Adequate first-aid provisions and trained responders will be available during operations.

Monitoring, Compliance and Continuous Improvement Regular audits, inspections and performance reviews will be carried out to verify compliance with this health and safety policy and to evaluate the effectiveness of controls for skip hire, rubbish collection and waste disposal activities. Key performance indicators include incident rates, audit findings, training completion and vehicle inspection records. Non-conformances will prompt corrective actions and management reviews.

Contractors and Subcontracted Services Contractors engaged to support skip hire operations or rubbish removal must demonstrate competence, hold relevant licences where required and adhere to this health and safety policy. Contractor arrangements will include clearly defined roles, communication protocols and permit-to-work where appropriate. The company retains the right to suspend work that presents an imminent risk.

Review and Policy Ownership This policy is owned by senior management and will be reviewed at least annually or sooner when there are significant changes to operations, legislation or following a serious incident. All staff will be informed of changes and afforded the training necessary to implement revised procedures. By maintaining a proactive approach to health and safety, the skip hire and rubbish removal service aims to protect people, property and the environment while delivering reliable waste management solutions.