Surbiton Skip Hire Health and Safety Policy

This Health and Safety Policy sets out the commitments and controls that Surbiton Skip Hire applies across its skip hire and rubbish removal operations. Our aim is to protect employees, sub-contractors, customers and the public while delivering professional waste collection and skip hire services within our service area. The policy applies to all activities including skip delivery, rubbish collection and site-based waste handling.

We recognise the legal and moral duty to manage health and safety risks and to meet statutory requirements. This document outlines responsibilities, risk management processes, training, and reporting procedures for safe handling of general and hazardous waste. It underlines our commitment to continuous improvement and to integrating safety into every job, from domestic skip hire to commercial waste management.

The objectives of this policy include reducing incidents, preventing work-related ill health, promoting safe working practices, and ensuring the safe operation of all vehicles and equipment used for waste collection and skip transit. We will conduct regular audits and inspections to ensure compliance and maintain records of risk assessments, safe systems of work, and training delivery.

Responsibilities and Organisational Arrangements

Management holds primary responsibility for developing and enforcing safety procedures. Managers will ensure that adequate resources are available for training, equipment maintenance and safe job planning. Employees and contractors are required to follow instructions, report hazards and take reasonable care of their own and others' safety. All personnel must participate in safety briefings and comply with permit-to-work controls where applied.

Key responsibilities include:

• Senior Management — set policy, review performance, allocate resources.
• Supervisors — ensure safe systems of work, supervise operations and maintain records.
• Drivers and Operatives — perform vehicle checks, secure loads and operate equipment safely.
• All Staff — report defects, incidents and unsafe acts immediately.

We maintain clear lines of communication to ensure safety information is cascaded to those working on-site and on the road. The policy is supported by written procedures for loading skips, vehicle movements, manual handling, and waste segregation for recycling and disposal.

Risk Assessment and Control Measures

All tasks are subject to documented risk assessments that identify hazards and define control measures. Specific attention is paid to manual handling, vehicle movement, interaction with the public, and the handling of unexpected or hazardous waste items that may be presented for collection.

Control measures include:

• Use of mechanical aids and lifting equipment to reduce manual handling injuries.
• Vehicle safety protocols, pre-shift checks and secure loading practices to prevent spillage during transport.
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, high-visibility clothing and safety footwear.
• Clear segregation of recyclable and non-recyclable materials to reduce contamination and the risk of hazardous exposures.

Where hazardous materials are discovered during waste collection, work will stop and the material will be isolated and disposed of according to regulatory requirements. Employees are trained to recognise hazardous waste types and to follow escalation procedures.

Training, competence and supervision form a core part of our health and safety approach. Staff receive induction training, role-specific instruction, and periodic refresher courses. We maintain records of competence and provide on-the-job supervision for new or inexperienced operatives engaged in rubbish removal and skip handling operations.

Emergency preparedness is maintained through response plans for incidents such as spills, vehicle collisions and first-aid events. First-aid equipment is provided and personnel are appointed and trained to act as first responders. Incident reporting and investigation procedures are designed to identify root causes and prevent recurrence.

We use safe systems of work including traffic management, exclusion zones around loading operations and guidance on working near utilities. Regular maintenance and inspection schedules reduce the likelihood of equipment failure and unsafe conditions.

Monitoring, review and continual improvement ensure our safety standards remain effective. Performance is measured using leading and lagging indicators such as training completion, near-miss reports and incident rates. Findings from audits and incident investigations inform corrective actions and policy updates.

Communication of safety information is maintained through toolbox talks, written procedures, signage and digital briefings. We encourage a culture where staff actively raise concerns and suggest improvements. Contractors and third-party suppliers are required to meet our safety standards before engagement.

Policy review: This policy will be reviewed at regular intervals and updated following significant changes to operations, legislation or after a serious incident. The health and safety arrangements detailed here support compliance with applicable statutory obligations and industry best practice for skip hire, rubbish clearance and waste transport.

By implementing these measures, Surbiton Skip Hire aims to deliver a reliable and safe rubbish collection and waste management service area. The company commits to fostering a safety-first mindset and to ensuring that every member of staff understands their role in maintaining a safe workplace environment.

All employees and contractors are required to read, understand and adhere to this policy. Refusal to comply with safety requirements may result in disciplinary action. The policy is available to relevant stakeholders and will be communicated as part of operational briefings.

Signed and endorsed by management — this document constitutes the formal statement of health and safety intent and provides the framework for practical implementation across our skip hire, rubbish removal and waste collection operations.