Health and Safety Policy — Skip Hire Barkingside

Skip Hire Barkingside maintains a comprehensive and proactive Health and Safety Policy designed to protect employees, contractors, visitors and the public while delivering skip hire and rubbish removal services. This document sets out the core principles, responsibilities and measures that govern safe operations across our waste collection and skip hire service activities. The purpose is to ensure that all work is carried out in a way that minimises risk and complies with applicable safety standards and statutory obligations.

Our commitment is to promote a safety-first culture where every team member understands that health and well-being are essential to service delivery. We adopt a systematic approach to hazard identification, risk assessment and control measures, ensuring that every skip hire job, waste uplift and site interaction is planned and executed safely. All personnel must follow safe working practices and report hazards immediately so that corrective action can be taken without delay.

The policy applies to all activities associated with our skip hire operations, including loading and unloading, vehicle movements, site set-up, temporary storage of waste, and interactions with customers and members of the public. It covers full-time staff, temporary workers, subcontractors and visiting personnel. Key objectives include preventing accidents, reducing occupational ill-health, and ensuring safe use of equipment and vehicles used for rubbish removal and waste management.

We ensure legal compliance and best practice by regularly reviewing the policy and its supporting procedures. Senior management take responsibility for allocating resources, setting expectations and monitoring performance through inspections and audits. Supervisors are responsible for implementing controls at site level, while each employee is expected to cooperate with safety systems and participate in training.

• Clear allocation of responsibilities for safety
• Regular risk assessments and safe operating procedures
• Provision and maintenance of appropriate safety equipment
• Incident reporting and investigation to prevent recurrence

Risk assessments for skip hire and rubbish collection focus on manual handling, vehicle movements, loading arrangements, interaction with public spaces, hazardous waste identification and environmental contamination risks. Controls include the use of mechanical aids, secure loading techniques, exclusion zones during lift operations, and clear markings on vehicles and skips. Where hazardous or controlled waste is suspected, work is stopped until the appropriate disposal route and controls are confirmed.

Training and competence are central to our approach. All staff undergo induction that covers our safety rules, emergency procedures and specific requirements related to waste handling. Additional training is provided for heavy vehicle operation, banksman duties, manual handling, and the safe use of tools and equipment used in our skip hire and rubbish clearance activities. Records of training are maintained and reviewed periodically to ensure ongoing competence.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is provided as required and must be worn in accordance with task risk assessments. This includes high-visibility clothing, gloves, sturdy footwear, eye protection and respiratory protection where needed. Equipment is inspected regularly and replaced when worn or unsafe. Maintenance schedules for vehicles and lifting equipment are strictly adhered to, and any defects are reported through our maintenance reporting system.

Emergency preparedness covers first aid, fire response and spill containment. Designated first aiders are available and first aid kits are issued to operational crews. In the event of a spill or contamination event, immediate containment, notification and remediation procedures are enacted to protect people and the environment. Incident reporting protocols ensure investigations identify root causes and lead to effective corrective actions.

Contractors and subcontractors engaged for specialist services must comply with this policy and demonstrate their competence and relevant safety documentation before starting work. Subcontractor performance is monitored by our site supervisors and through periodic reviews. All personnel are required to stop work where there is an immediate risk and seek guidance from a supervisor.

Monitoring, review and continuous improvement are achieved through routine inspections, recorded safety observations, near-miss reporting and formal audits. Key performance indicators such as incident rates, audit findings and training completion rates are reviewed by management to measure effectiveness and drive improvements. Lessons learned are shared across the business to embed safer working practices.

This policy is communicated to all employees and made available to interested parties as appropriate. It will be reviewed at least annually or when significant changes occur to operations, legislation, or following a serious incident. By adhering to this health and safety policy, Skip Hire Barkingside aims to deliver a reliable skip hire and rubbish removal service while maintaining the highest standards of safety and environmental care.