Health & Safety Policy for Business Waste Removal Hatch End

This policy outlines the commitment of our business waste removal team to provide a safe working environment across our rubbish company service area. It sets out the principles for preventing accidents, controlling risks, and protecting employees, contractors, clients and the public during all waste collection and rubbish removal activities. This statement is designed to be practical and enforceable; it recognises that effective health and safety management is integral to efficient waste removal service area operations and sustainable performance.

Our approach to safety combines regular risk assessment, training, supervision and continuous improvement. The policy applies to the full range of services we provide, including commercial skip collections, office clearance, and routine business waste collection. We expect all staff to follow procedures, wear the correct personal protective equipment and contribute to a culture of safety. Management will ensure sufficient resources are available to implement these measures and to address emerging hazards within the rubbish removal service area.

The key objectives of this policy are to: reduce incidents and injuries, ensure compliance with applicable health and safety regulations, and maintain safe vehicles and plant. We will achieve this through systematic hazard identification, timely incident reporting, and by setting measurable targets for safe performance across the waste collection area. Every employee and contractor has a role to play; leadership will be visible, and competence will be maintained by planned training and documented safe systems of work.

Risk assessment is central to our safety management. Before any task is undertaken, competent staff will assess the work, identify hazards such as manual handling, traffic, sharps, hazardous substances, and confined spaces, and apply control measures. Controls include engineering measures, safe operating procedures, and the use of appropriate PPE. We emphasise safe lifting techniques and vehicle loading procedures to prevent musculoskeletal injuries common in rubbish collection operations within the service area.

Vehicles and mobile plant are inspected daily and maintained to a programme that minimises mechanical failures and roadside hazards. Drivers are trained in defensive driving and safe route planning to reduce risk to the public and workforce during business waste removal operations. Equipment that handles or compacts waste is subject to specific lock-off and guarding protocols, and only authorised personnel may operate powered machinery.

Workplace and site control measures include segregating waste types, clear labeling, and secure storage to manage risks from hazardous or contaminated materials. Our procedures for hazardous waste align with accepted waste transfer and disposal standards: identification, containment, documentation and handover to licensed processors. Employees are instructed not to accept unknown hazardous loads and must escalate concerns to a supervisor immediately.

Training and competence are managed through induction, refresher courses and task-specific briefings. New staff complete site-orientations and operate under direct supervision until deemed competent. We maintain records of qualifications, toolbox talks and emergency drills. Health surveillance is provided where required by risk assessment, and wellbeing initiatives encourage reporting of fatigue, stress or any condition that could affect safe performance in the rubbish company service area.

Emergency planning covers spill response, fire, medical incidents and vehicle incidents. Clear reporting lines and communication protocols ensure that incidents are contained and investigated promptly. Incident investigations identify root causes and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence. We operate a non-punitive reporting culture so that near-misses and hazards are reported and addressed without delay.

Responsibilities are allocated as follows: management retains overall accountability for policy implementation; supervisors ensure compliance and safe systems of work; employees follow instructions and report hazards; contractors must meet our safety requirements before starting work. Key duties are summarised in the following list:

• Management: resource allocation, policy review, monitoring performance.
• Supervisors: risk assessments, site supervision, incident response.
• Employees: adherence to procedures, use of PPE, reporting incidents.

Monitoring and review mechanisms include routine audits, vehicle and equipment checks, and performance metrics for safety outcomes. We set targets for reduced incidents and improved compliance in the waste removal service area and report progress at regular management reviews. Where legislative changes occur, or new hazards are identified, the policy and associated procedures will be updated promptly.

We promote continuous improvement through feedback, lessons learned from investigations, and by sharing best practice within the team. Our safety standards are applied consistently across all locations covered by our rubbish collection service area, and contracted partners must operate to equivalent standards. This policy will be reviewed annually or sooner if circumstances change, ensuring ongoing relevance to workplace conditions and regulatory expectations.

Adherence to this policy is mandatory for all personnel engaged in business waste removal activities. By integrating clear responsibilities, robust procedures and ongoing training, we commit to protecting health and safety while delivering dependable rubbish removal and waste collection services. This document sets the baseline for safe operations and will be made available to staff and enforcement authorities on request as part of our legal compliance obligations.