Health and Safety Policy — Skip Hire Turnham Green

Purpose: This policy sets out the commitment of the skip hire company operating in Turnham Green to protect the health, safety and welfare of employees, contractors, customers and the public. It applies to all activities associated with skip hire services, rubbish removal and waste collection operations conducted on behalf of the skip hire company in the service area.

Scope and Legal Commitment

The policy covers skip loading, vehicle movements, site placement, manual handling, hazardous materials segregation and collection of waste. It is the duty of management to ensure that work is planned and carried out so far as reasonably practicable without risks to health and safety. All staff and sub-contractors engaged in skip hire services in Turnham Green are required to comply with this policy.

Responsibilities

Management will: assess and control risks; provide information, instruction and supervision; ensure appropriate plant and vehicles are safe and maintained; and continually review performance. Employees and operatives are required to take reasonable care of their own safety, to co-operate with managers and to report hazards or defects immediately.

The company will implement a documented system of risk assessment and safe systems of work specific to skip hire operations. Risk assessments will address loading/unloading activities, manual handling of waste, working near traffic, use of lifting equipment, and the identification and segregation of hazardous or controlled wastes. Controls will be proportionate to the level of risk and reviewed whenever work changes or an incident occurs.

Control measures will include, but are not limited to:

• Designated vehicle routes and exclusion zones on sites;
• Use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) including hi-vis, gloves and steel-toe boots;
• Safe manual handling training and mechanical aids for bulky loads;
• Regular maintenance and inspection of skips, hooks, lifting gear and vehicles;
• Segregation and labelling of hazardous materials to prevent contamination and unsafe handling.

Training, Competence and Supervision

The company will ensure operatives receive recorded induction and ongoing training relevant to skip hire and rubbish removal tasks. Training includes vehicle safety awareness, load security, correct skip placement, working at the kerbside, and recognition of hazardous waste types. Supervisors will monitor competence and provide documented refresher training where performance gaps are identified.

Site safety standards are mandatory for all placements of skips. Before delivery the skip hire team will confirm that placement does not obstruct the public highway unsafely, does not damage underground services and that appropriate permits are obtained where required. Traffic management, signage and temporary barriers shall be used as necessary to protect members of the public and site workers.

Handling of hazardous waste and controlled materials must follow statutory requirements. Materials such as asbestos, certain chemicals, contaminated soils and electronic waste require specialist handling and licensed disposal. Employees must not accept or transport hazardous loads unless authorised and trained to do so; such wastes will be segregated and disposed of via approved licensed carriers.

Equipment, plant and vehicle maintenance schedules will be maintained and documented. Pre-use checks are required for vehicles and lifting equipment. Faults or defects discovered during inspections must be reported immediately and the equipment taken out of service until repaired. Records of inspections and maintenance will be retained for audit.

Incidents, Emergencies and Reporting

All accidents, injuries, near-misses and dangerous occurrences associated with skip hire or rubbish collection must be reported without delay. A clear incident reporting procedure will be maintained, together with investigation processes to identify root cause and to implement corrective actions. Emergency procedures, including spill containment and first aid arrangements, will be readily available at operational sites.

Environmental Protection

The company commits to waste hierarchy principles and will seek to minimise environmental harm from skip hire operations. Measures include secure loading to prevent litter and fly-tipping, prompt removal of spilled materials, and prioritising recycling and lawful disposal routes. Pollution prevention and control will be integral to operational planning.

Monitoring, Review and Enforcement The policy will be monitored through regular audits, workplace inspections and review of incident trends. Performance indicators will include injury rates, near-miss reports, compliance with vehicle maintenance and training records. Management will review this policy annually or sooner in the event of organizational or legislative change. Non-compliance with safety obligations will be addressed through disciplinary or contractual measures as appropriate.