Health and Safety Policy — Business Waste Removal Kilburn

Scope and purpose: This Health and Safety policy applies to all aspects of our business waste removal services across our service area. It sets out how we identify hazards, assess risks and implement controls so that staff, visitors and third parties remain safe during rubbish collection, commercial waste removal and site-based operations. The policy underpins our commitment to safe working and continuous improvement in occupational safety for every waste removal project we undertake.

Policy statement and core principles

We are committed to preventing accidents and ill-health by applying the following principles: conducting regular risk assessments; providing appropriate training and supervision; ensuring competent waste handling and transport; and maintaining vehicles, plant and equipment. All employees and contractors are expected to follow safe systems of work and report hazards promptly. This document supports a consistent approach to safety across the rubbish collection and recycling activities we provide.

Responsibilities

Responsibility for health and safety is shared. Senior management must ensure policy, resources and oversight are available. Supervisors are responsible for day-to-day safety briefings and monitoring. Employees must follow instructions, use provided PPE and participate in training. The following list summarises key duties:

• Management: set policy, allocate resources, ensure legal compliance.
• Supervisors: conduct toolbox talks, supervise manual handling and vehicle loading.
• Operators and staff: use PPE, follow safe lifting techniques and report defects.

Risk assessment and control measures — Risk assessments are carried out for each type of task including commercial skip loading, cellar clearances and hazardous waste segregation. Controls include elimination or substitution where possible, engineering controls (e.g. mechanical lifting aids), administrative controls (site rules, route planning) and personal protective equipment. We adopt a hierarchy of controls to reduce risks to the lowest reasonably practicable level.

PPE and equipment — Appropriate PPE is provided and must be worn: high-visibility clothing, safety boots, gloves, eye protection and respiratory protection where dust or fumes are present. All lifting equipment, trolleys and compactors are inspected and maintained according to a planned maintenance schedule. Plant operators hold relevant competency certificates and vehicles are checked before every shift to ensure roadworthiness and secure load containment.

Manual handling and ergonomics

Manual handling guidance and training aim to minimise injuries. Tasks are organised to avoid unnecessary lifting; mechanical aids are used for heavy items such as bulky waste and large furniture. Staff are trained in safe postures and team lifts. Frequent task rotation reduces repetitive strain and regular breaks are encouraged during long collection rounds.

Hazardous and controlled waste — When dealing with hazardous, clinical or regulated wastes, clear procedures must be followed to segregate, label and transport materials safely. Only authorised staff may handle hazardous categories and they must follow an approved safe handling procedure and complete the necessary documentation. Spill kits and containment measures are located on vehicles and at depots to manage accidental releases quickly and safely.

Vehicles and road safety — Safe loading, securing of waste and driver hours compliance are essential. Drivers must carry out pre-start checks and load-restriction procedures, and ensure visibility around collection vehicles is maintained. Routes are planned to reduce unnecessary reversing where possible; where reversing is required a spotter must be used. All incidents, near misses and vehicle defects are recorded and acted upon.

Training, incident reporting and emergency response — Training is delivered to all staff on induction and refreshed periodically. Topics include manual handling, PPE, hazardous waste handling, safe vehicle operation and first aid. Incidents and near misses must be reported immediately and recorded in our incident log. Investigations identify root causes and lead to corrective actions. Emergency procedures cover spill response, fire, medical emergencies and severe weather events to protect people and the environment.

Monitoring, audit and continual improvement

Performance is monitored through audits, inspections and performance indicators such as incident frequency, training completion rates and equipment inspection records. Regular safety meetings review findings and assign actions. We strive for continual improvement by learning from incidents, implementing best practice and updating our safety management system.

Health and wellbeing — We recognise the importance of employee health. Occupational health measures include access to health surveillance where exposures warrant it, fatigue management, and support for mental wellbeing. Staff are encouraged to raise concerns and management will respond promptly to reduce workplace stressors and hazards.

Policy review and implementation

This policy is reviewed at least annually or following significant change, incident or regulatory update. Implementation is the responsibility of management and requires active cooperation from every person involved in our rubbish removal and waste management services. By adhering to this policy we protect our workforce, the public and the environment while delivering reliable commercial waste removal across our service area.