Health and Safety Policy for Skip Hire Tower Hamlets

This Health and Safety policy sets out the commitment of our skip hire company to protect employees, contractors and the public while delivering responsible waste management and rubbish removal services. The policy applies across our service area and covers operational activities from hire and delivery to waste collection and site clearance. It is designed to be clear, practical and proportionate to the risks encountered during skip hire and rubbish collection operations.

We acknowledge our legal and moral responsibilities and will maintain systems to ensure safe working. Our core commitments include hazard identification, risk assessment, and implementing controls to prevent injury, ill health and environmental harm. All staff and subcontractors are expected to follow this policy and report hazards without delay. Managers hold responsibility for ensuring safe methods and that resources for safety are available.

The scope of this policy covers loading, unloading and transportation of skips, manual handling during rubbish removal, secure containment of waste, and access management at customer sites. It also covers maintenance of vehicles and plant used in our skip hire service, including routine inspections and defect reporting to prevent mechanical failures and incidents.

Roles and responsibilities are clearly defined. Senior management is responsible for policy oversight and continual improvement. Supervisors must ensure safe systems of work are followed on every job. Employees must take reasonable care for their own safety and for others who may be affected by their acts or omissions, follow training and use provided personal protective equipment (PPE).

We conduct regular risk assessments and apply the hierarchy of controls: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative actions and PPE. Controls tailored to rubble, green waste, mixed household rubbish and bulky items are implemented to reduce manual handling, dust and spill risks. Training is provided on safe lifting techniques, traffic management, and safe operation of loaders where used in waste collection tasks.

Safe vehicle operations are critical in a mobile rubbish company service area. Drivers must adhere to tachograph rules where applicable, carry out daily walkaround checks, secure loads correctly and avoid overfilling. Loading/offloading procedures include establishing exclusion zones, using hi-vis clothing, wheel chocks where needed, and clear communication to prevent collisions and crushing injuries.

Operational Controls and Site Management

We apply specific controls for different site types: public footways, private driveways, construction sites and commercial premises. Parking and placement of skips are authorised only when safe access, visibility and pedestrian segregation can be assured. Signage, cones and temporary barriers are used to manage hazards where appropriate.

Waste segregation and handling protocols minimise environmental and health hazards. Prohibited items such as hazardous chemicals, asbestos, and sharps are identified and refused at collection. Staff receive instruction on safe containment, spill response and reporting procedures to ensure environmental protection and compliance with waste transfer regulations.

Where manual handling is unavoidable, team lifts and mechanical aids are used to reduce strain. Incident reporting and near-miss recording systems support learning and prevention. Investigations identify root causes and lead to corrective actions, including changes to procedure, retraining, or equipment upgrades.

Training, Competence and Communication

All personnel receive induction training, role-specific instruction and refresher sessions. Competence assessments cover safe use of lifting aids, vehicle operation, and safe customer site interactions. Records of training and certificates are maintained to demonstrate workforce capability.

Communication is continuous: pre-job briefings, toolbox talks and digital records ensure everyone understands the day's hazards. Subcontractors engaged for rubbish removal must meet our safety standards and provide evidence of their own safety arrangements. Information on site-specific risks is shared before work starts and whenever conditions change.

Monitoring and review are integral. We perform routine audits, vehicle and equipment inspections, and safety performance reviews. Key performance indicators include incident frequency, completion of risk assessments, and training currency. This policy is reviewed annually or following a significant event to ensure it remains effective and aligned with operational needs and regulatory expectations.