Health and Safety Policy — Hammersmith Skip Hire

At Hammersmith Skip Hire we commit to maintaining the highest standards of health, safety and environmental protection across every element of our skip hire and rubbish removal operations. This policy sets out our approach to risk management and safe working practices for employees, sub-contractors and customers interacting with our rubbish company and skip hire services. It applies to all sites, vehicles and activities associated with delivering reliable waste removal and rubbish collection services in our service area.

Our objectives are clear: to minimise risk, prevent injury and ill-health, and ensure safe handling of all waste streams. Health and safety responsibilities are allocated and understood at every level. We emphasise proactive risk assessment, appropriate training, and continuous improvement. All operatives must follow safe systems of work and use the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) when performing duties related to site clearance, skip delivery, and waste removal.

Responsibilities include management oversight, supervisor checks and individual accountability. Managers will ensure risk assessments are completed for routine and non-routine tasks, including manual handling, vehicle movements, loading and unloading of skips, and the segregation of materials. Employees and contractors must report hazards immediately and comply with safe work procedures. This rubbish company policy also covers reporting lines for near-misses and incidents to support rapid corrective action and prevent recurrence.

Risk Assessment, Controls and Safe Operations

We conduct documented risk assessments before commencing work and whenever conditions change. Controls are implemented on a hierarchy basis: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls and PPE. Where practical, heavy lifting is minimised through mechanical aids and team-lift procedures for bulky waste. Traffic management is a priority on site to separate pedestrians from vehicles and to manage skip placement safely.

Safe operation of vehicles and plant is essential to our skip hire company service delivery. All drivers and machine operators are required to hold appropriate licences and undertake daily vehicle checks. Vehicles used for rubbish collection and skip transport undergo scheduled maintenance and inspections. Managers will maintain records of servicing, operator training and competency assessments to ensure ongoing compliance with operational safety standards.

We operate a waste acceptance policy that prohibits hazardous or non-permitted materials in standard skips; these items must be handled by authorised specialist carriers. To support clarity, we maintain a clear list of prohibited wastes and provide alternative options for safe disposal. The following controls are mandatory for loading and site work:

• Use of gloves, high-visibility clothing and safety footwear at all times
• Securing loads to prevent shifting during transit
• Regular communication between drivers and site staff using recognised signals

Training, Emergency Preparedness and Monitoring

Training and competence form the backbone of our safety culture. All new employees receive induction training covering manual handling, operatives' duties during skip placement, and the safe management of waste. Continued development includes refresher sessions and task-specific instruction for higher-risk activities such as working at height or handling bulky construction waste. Supervisors will monitor competence and arrange further training where gaps are identified.

Emergency procedures are established for incidents such as spillages, fires, vehicle collisions or medical emergencies. We maintain first aid arrangements, spill kits and clear evacuation routes at operational sites. Incidents are investigated, documented and reviewed to identify improvements. This ensures our rubbish collection service remains resilient and that lessons learned are integrated into future risk controls.

Performance is monitored through routine audits, safety inspections and analysis of incident trends. We set measurable health and safety objectives and review them at management meetings to drive continuous improvement. Compliance with statutory requirements and industry best practice is a minimum standard; we aspire to exceed expectations by embedding a safety-first mindset across our waste removal and skip hire services.

All stakeholders, including customers receiving skip hire or rubbish collection services, are asked to cooperate with site rules and the directions of our staff to maintain a safe environment. Clear signage, safe access arrangements and guidance on acceptable waste help prevent accidental exposure to hazards. We encourage reporting of unsafe conditions and provide a non-punitive channel for raising concerns so risks can be mitigated swiftly.

Records of training, risk assessments, inspections and incident investigations are retained in accordance with company policy to demonstrate due diligence and support ongoing review. The policy is subject to periodic review and revision to reflect changes in operations, legislation and lessons learned from monitoring activities.

Conclusion: Hammersmith Skip Hire is committed to protecting the health and safety of its workforce, customers and the public while delivering professional skip hire, rubbish removal and waste management services across our service area. By following this policy and adhering to the prescribed controls, we create safer workplaces and improve service reliability for all stakeholders.