Health and Safety Policy — Skip Hire Plumstead

Skip Hire Plumstead is committed to providing safe, reliable and compliant rubbish removal and skip hire services. This Health and Safety policy sets out the standards and procedures that govern every part of our waste collection and skip hire operations. The aim is to protect employees, contractors, customers and the public while ensuring environmental responsibilities are met.

Our core objectives are to reduce risk, prevent injury and limit potential harm associated with the delivery and collection of skips, transfer of waste and operation of site-based services. The policy applies to all staff, subcontractors and any person engaged in activities on behalf of our skip hire company. All personnel are expected to follow guidance and participate in training to maintain a safe working environment.

Policy scope and legal compliance

We will meet and, where reasonably practicable, exceed applicable health and safety regulations and industry standards for rubbish removal services. This includes compliance with statutory requirements on waste handling, transport of skips, manual handling, vehicle safety and control of hazardous substances. The business will maintain current licences and permits relevant to waste management and ensure records of compliance are retained.

Risk assessment and safe systems of work

Regular risk assessments will be conducted for all tasks involving skip hire and waste collection. Assessments will identify hazards such as manual handling injuries, vehicle movements, uneven surfaces, sharp objects in waste and potential exposure to hazardous materials. Control measures will be put in place and reviewed periodically.

A training programme will be maintained to equip staff with the skills to work safely. Training covers vehicle operation, safe loading and unloading of skips, use of lifting equipment, correct use of PPE (including gloves, high-visibility clothing, safety footwear and eye protection), and recognition of dangerous wastes. Staff competence will be assessed with refresher training provided as required.

Personal protective equipment and workplace rules: All personnel must use the PPE provided and follow site rules. The company will ensure PPE is appropriate, maintained and replaced when necessary. Supervisors have responsibility to enforce PPE use and safe working practices during all rubbish collection and skip hire activities.

Vehicle and site safety measures are fundamental to our operations. All vehicles used for skip delivery and collection are maintained to a documented inspection schedule and tested to ensure safe operation. Drivers must follow defensive driving standards, use vehicle restraints, and secure loads to prevent spillage during transit. Vehicle checks must be recorded before each shift.

Handling hazardous and controlled wastes is strictly controlled. Items such as asbestos, solvents, batteries and clinical waste must not be placed in general skips unless expressly authorised by documented procedures. Where hazardous materials are identified, staff will follow isolation, segregation and disposal protocols and will escalate to trained supervisors if specialist removal is needed.

Site operations and public protection: When placing skips at customer premises or on public highways, the company will implement traffic management plans, use proper signage and ensure skips do not obstruct pedestrian access. We will coordinate with relevant authorities where necessary and take measures to protect the public from trip and collision hazards.

Incident reporting, emergency response and first aid

All accidents, incidents and near misses must be reported without delay. Records will be kept and used to inform corrective actions to prevent recurrence. Emergency procedures are in place for spill response, fire, medical emergencies and hazardous exposures. Adequate first-aid facilities and trained first-aiders will be available at operational sites.

Monitoring, audit and responsibilities

The company will monitor health and safety performance through scheduled audits, site inspections and review of incident data. Management will set measurable targets for safety improvement and review performance monthly. Key responsibilities are allocated as follows:

• Management: provide leadership, maintain resources and ensure legal compliance.
• Supervisors: enforce safety procedures, conduct toolbox talks and ensure staff competence.
• Employees: follow procedures, wear PPE and report hazards.

Documentation and continuous improvement: This policy, risk assessments, vehicle inspection logs and training records will be maintained and made available to authorised personnel. The policy will be reviewed annually or following significant change, incident or legislative update to ensure ongoing relevance.

Our skip hire and rubbish collection services are delivered with a commitment to safety, clarity of responsibility and continual improvement. By embedding robust controls, clear communication and a culture of reporting, we aim to reduce harm and support a safe working environment for everyone involved in waste management operations.

Signed on behalf of the company — This policy is the authoritative statement of our approach to health and safety for skip hire and rubbish removal activities and is effective from the date of issue until superseded.