Health and Safety Policy — Skip Hire Merton

Skip Hire Merton is committed to maintaining the highest standards of health and safety across all operations. This policy sets out the approach taken by our skip hire company and rubbish removal teams to protect employees, contractors, customers and members of the public from harm. It reflects a clear management commitment to safety and legal compliance and applies to all activities, including skip delivery, on-site waste collection and transfer operations.

Our objectives are to prevent accidents and incidents, reduce occupational ill health, and minimise environmental harm through robust waste handling and rubbish collection practices. Responsibilities are allocated to managers and supervisors who must ensure operatives receive adequate training, personal protective equipment (PPE) and supervision. The policy emphasises proactive risk management and continual improvement across every site and vehicle in our waste removal fleet.

The scope covers skip hire services, transfer of commercial waste, and customer drop-off areas. Risk assessments will be carried out for routine and non-routine tasks, including loading, unloading, manual handling and vehicle movements. Control measures will follow the hierarchy of risk control: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls and PPE. All employees must cooperate with safety systems and report hazards immediately to their line manager.

Training and competence are central to safe skip hire operations. We will provide induction training for new staff, refresher courses and task-specific instruction for drivers, loaders and site operatives. Competence assessment will include safe driving practices for the waste collection fleet, secure loading procedures for skips, and correct segregation of recyclable and non-recyclable materials. Managers must ensure training records are maintained and reviewed regularly.

Vehicles and equipment used in refuse management are subject to regular inspection and maintenance regimes. Pre-use checks are mandatory and documented. Any defects that might compromise safety will trigger immediate removal of equipment from service until repaired. Mechanical lifting aids, tail lifts and skip-lifting gear will be tested and certified in line with statutory requirements to reduce manual handling injuries and equipment failure risks.

Safe systems of work will be established for on-site skip placement, collection, and transfer operations. Work area segregation, traffic management plans, and clear signage are used to protect operatives and the public. Where work near utilities or at height is required, permits and method statements will be produced. Supervisors will ensure that isolation and permit controls are in place for hot works, confined spaces and other high-risk tasks.

Health surveillance and wellbeing form part of our occupational safety framework. Employees exposed to hazardous substances, dust or repetitive manual handling will receive appropriate health checks. Occupational health referrals will be made where indicated and reasonable adjustments provided for staff with health needs. Mental health support and fatigue management will be promoted to ensure a resilient workforce for our waste collection and skip hire services.

Accident reporting, investigation and learning are mandatory. All incidents, near misses and dangerous occurrences will be reported and investigated to identify root causes. Findings will be used to update training, revise procedures and improve control measures. Records of incidents and corrective actions will be kept and reviewed as part of management oversight and periodic safety audits.

Key responsibilities

Management must ensure that adequate resources are provided to implement this health and safety policy and that safety performance is monitored. Supervisors are responsible for day-to-day enforcement of safe working practices and for ensuring workers are competent. Employees must follow safe systems, use PPE correctly and report hazards without delay. Contractors and subcontractors engaged by the skip hire firm must comply with these standards and demonstrate equivalent safety arrangements.

Monitoring, review and continuous improvement

Regular audits and inspections will monitor compliance with this policy and the effectiveness of controls. Performance indicators, such as incident rates, near-miss reports and audit findings, will be reviewed at management meetings. This policy will be reviewed annually or following significant change, incident or legislative update to ensure continued relevance and improvement of our waste handling and rubbish company operations.

To support implementation, the organisation will maintain documented procedures, safe operating instructions and training records. Emergency arrangements and spill response plans will be in place for waste transfer sites and vehicle incidents. By embedding safety into the culture of the skip hire and waste collection business, we aim to protect people, property and the environment while delivering reliable skip hire services.

• Legal compliance: The company will comply with applicable health and safety and environmental legislation and codes of practice relevant to skip hire and waste removal activities.
• Risk management: Systematic risk assessment and implementation of control measures will be enforced across all operations.
• Engagement: Worker involvement in safety decisions and consultation will be encouraged and documented.