Health & Safety Policy for Skip Hire Herne Hill

This Health and Safety policy sets out the commitment of Skip Hire Herne Hill and its operating teams to maintain a safe working environment for employees, contractors, customers and members of the public. It applies across our rubbish collection and skip hire services and covers operations, vehicle movements, site activities and waste handling. Our goal is to prevent injury, reduce environmental harm and ensure legal compliance through clear procedures, training and monitoring.

Our policy is relevant to all activities of the rubbish removal and skip hire business including delivery and collection of containers, on-site loading and transfer of waste materials. Everyone engaged by the company must understand their responsibilities: managers will lead and allocate resources, supervisors must enforce controls and workers must follow safe systems of work. The policy promotes a culture in which safety is prioritized and near-misses are reported and learned from.

Risk assessment is the foundation of our approach. We undertake systematic assessments before work starts, identify significant hazards and implement proportionate controls for hazards such as manual handling, falling objects, moving vehicles and hazardous waste. Training and competency checks are documented and kept current. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is provided where required and must be used in accordance with documented procedures to reduce exposure to risks associated with waste operations.

Operational Controls and Safe Systems

Safe systems of work are communicated to all staff and are subject to regular review. Controls include permit-to-work processes, exclusion zones during loading, reversing and high-risk manoeuvres, and procedures for segregating different waste types. Operational measures are supported by routine maintenance of containers and vehicles, and pre-shift checks. The company maintains a clear chain of responsibility so that every task has an identified person ensuring safety and compliance during rubbish collection and skip hire tasks.

Vehicle safety and site management are key to preventing incidents. Drivers are trained in load restraint, vehicle stability, and safe access/egress. When operating on customers' sites, staff will confirm site-specific hazards and follow agreed instructions. The company enforces speed limits, parking controls and pedestrian exclusion zones. A toolbox talk culture ensures the team receives short, relevant briefings before tasks, reinforcing safe behaviour and hazard awareness for waste collection and skip delivery services.

Controls and checks include:

• Pre-operational vehicle inspections and load checks
• Use of adequate PPE and manual handling aids
• Clear segregation and labelling of hazardous materials
• Emergency response arrangements and spill containment

These measures are practical steps to reduce risk during everyday waste management activities and to protect workers and the public.

Training, Emergency Preparedness and Waste Handling

All employees receive induction training, periodic refreshers and task-specific instruction. Records of training, licenses and competency assessments are maintained. Emergency procedures cover first aid, fire fighting, spill response and incident reporting. In the event of an incident, staff must secure the area, render assistance according to their training and notify the appointed manager. An investigation will be conducted to identify root causes and preventative measures.

Waste handling standards require proper segregation at source, safe lifting practices and avoidance of mixing incompatible wastes. We reject hazardous items that cannot be accepted through standard skip hire or rubbish collection routes and will follow statutory procedures for hazardous waste where necessary. Environmental controls are in place to prevent leakage, dust generation and contamination during loading and transportation, supporting our commitment to responsible waste management.

Monitoring, review and continuous improvement are integral to this policy. The company carries out routine audits, safety inspections and performance reviews. Health and safety performance indicators are tracked and communicated to management and staff. Where issues are identified, corrective actions are implemented and effectiveness is evaluated. The policy is reviewed annually and updated as required to reflect changes in legislation, industry practice or operational scope. Strong leadership combined with staff engagement ensures that safety remains central to our rubbish clearance and skip hire services.