Health & Safety Policy — Eltham Skip Hire

Eltham Skip Hire maintains a clear and enforceable Health and Safety policy designed to protect employees, contractors, customers and the public during all aspects of skip hire, waste collection and rubbish removal operations. This policy sets out our commitments, the responsibilities of those who work for and with the company, and the practical measures we take to reduce risk across our rubbish company service area and related waste management activities.

Scope and Objectives

The policy applies to all activities carried out by the skip hire company and its representatives, including vehicle movements, on-site skip placement, loading and unloading, transfer station operations, and refuse collection services. Our objectives are to prevent injury and ill health, comply with applicable regulations, and continually improve safety performance across the waste removal and skip hire service operations.

Roles, Responsibilities and Accountability

The management team has overall responsibility for health and safety performance and will ensure necessary resources are provided. Supervisors and drivers must implement safe systems of work. All staff and contractors are required to follow procedures, report hazards and participate in training. Visitors and customers must adhere to reasonable instructions while on site or interacting with our rubbish collection service.

Risk assessment is central to how we operate: we carry out systematic assessments for each site, delivery point and transfer activity. Assessments identify hazards such as manual handling risks, vehicle interface with pedestrians, hazardous materials, confined spaces, and environmental risks associated with waste disposal. Controls are implemented proportionately to the risk and kept under review as part of our ongoing waste management cycle.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) and safe systems of work are provided for all tasks that cannot be made safe by other means. This includes high-visibility clothing, gloves, safety footwear and eye protection for staff involved in skip loading and rubbish removal operations. Drivers are trained in secure loading and carriage to prevent load shift and spillage on public highways. Vehicle safety checks are performed daily.

We recognise the specific hazards associated with hazardous and mixed wastes. Our procedure for segregation and identification of hazardous materials requires staff to isolate suspect loads and request specialist disposal where necessary. Training for dealing with asbestos, chemicals and sharps is mandatory where exposure is possible, and emergency response arrangements are documented and practiced.

Equipment maintenance and safe use are essential elements of the policy. Skips, lifting equipment, tail lifts and vehicles are subject to scheduled maintenance and inspection. Faults are reported immediately and defective equipment is taken out of service until repaired. Contractors and third-party operators working with our rubbish company network must demonstrate equivalent standards and provide evidence of competence.

Emergency preparedness includes clear evacuation routes, first-aid provisions and an incident reporting system that captures near misses and accidents. All incidents are investigated to identify root causes and corrective actions. Lessons learned are communicated across the organisation to prevent recurrence, and we maintain a culture that encourages prompt reporting without fear of reprisal.

• Safe site layout and exclusion zones during delivery and collection;
• Safe lifting practices and mechanical aids to reduce manual handling injuries;
• Traffic management plans to separate vehicles and pedestrians while skips are set down or loaded.

These measures support our refuse service delivery and reduce the likelihood of harm during routine operations.

We commit to documented training and competency assessments for all roles that affect safety. Induction, refreshers and task-specific programmes are in place to ensure every employee understands their responsibilities and the risks associated with waste removal and skip hire activities. Records of training and qualifications are maintained and audited regularly.

Inspections, audits and performance monitoring form part of our continuous improvement approach. Key performance indicators include incident frequency, training completion rates, vehicle defect trends and compliance with segregation and disposal requirements. Management reviews consider these metrics to shape policy updates and resource allocation for the skip hire and rubbish collection operations.

Legal compliance is a minimum standard for Eltham Skip Hire. We keep up to date with health and safety and environmental obligations relevant to a skip hire and waste removal company and ensure operational practices align with statutory requirements. Insurance, licences and waste transfer documentation are managed to support lawful and transparent refuse services.

Communication is essential: we share safety information with customers where it affects site operations, provide clear signage at collection points and ensure staff receive briefings on unusual or high-risk jobs. Contractors and partners are engaged to confirm mutual understanding of hazards and controls during joint activities.

In summary, the policy emphasises prevention, training, competent equipment use and a shared responsibility for safety across our rubbish removal and skip hire services. The approach balances operational needs with the wellbeing of people and protection of the environment. Regular review cycles ensure the policy remains effective and responsive to new risks.

This document represents the formal Health and Safety policy for Eltham Skip Hire and will be reviewed at least annually or sooner if organisational or legal changes require. All staff are expected to work in accordance with this policy and to contribute to a safe, professional and compliant waste management and skip hire service.