Health and Safety Policy — Skip Hire Knightsbridge

This Health and Safety Policy sets out the commitment of Skip Hire Knightsbridge and its affiliated skip hire services to protect the health, safety and welfare of employees, contractors and members of the public who may be affected by our waste management and rubbish removal activities. It is the aim of this policy to promote a safe working environment across all skip hire operations, refuse collection and site handling tasks, and to ensure compliance with relevant statutory responsibilities without over-specifying local regulatory detail.

The scope of this policy covers all activities undertaken by our skip hire company and waste clearance teams, including skip delivery, collection, on-site placement, transfer and disposal coordination. All personnel engaged in rubbish collection services, temporary waste containment, and associated plant operation are required to understand and apply the principles set out here. The policy emphasises hazard identification, risk control and continuous improvement through routine inspections and training.

Responsibilities: Management will ensure that adequate resources are made available to implement this policy. Supervisors must enforce safe systems of work while employees and contractors have a duty to work safely, follow instructions and report hazards. The obligations include but are not limited to: safe skip loading, correct segregation of wastes, and observing exclusion zones during vehicle movements.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Comprehensive risk assessments will be carried out for routine and non-routine tasks associated with the skip hire and rubbish removal service. These assessments will identify significant hazards such as manual handling, vehicle movements, working at height, hazardous materials and uncontrolled tipping. Identified risks will be reduced to as low as reasonably practicable by implementing hierarchical controls: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls and personal protective equipment (PPE).

Training and Competence: All employees will receive appropriate induction and task-specific training appropriate to their role in the skip hire and waste collection operation. Training topics include safe driving and vehicle loading practices, correct use of lifting equipment, segregation of recyclable and non-recyclable materials, and the handling of potentially hazardous items. Employees will also be trained in:

• correct manual handling techniques
• use and maintenance of PPE
• emergency procedures and spill response

Supervisors will assess competence and maintain training records while ensuring refresher training and updates are delivered as required. The company encourages a culture of active participation in safety briefings, toolbox talks and regular safety meetings so that learning is shared across mobile teams and depot staff.

Operational Controls and Environmental Protection

The company maintains strict operational controls for vehicle safety, site placement of skips, load restraint and traffic management during deliveries and collections. Drivers and plant operators must conduct pre-use checks, verify load security and follow designated access routes. Where skips are sited on public highways or customer premises, suitable signage and barriers will be used to protect pedestrians and road users.

Hazardous waste and controlled substances will be identified and segregated at source. Our waste handling policy prohibits the disposal of certain items into skips (for example, medical waste, asbestos, oily wastes and pressurised cylinders) unless specialist arrangements have been made. Where hazardous materials are discovered, operations will cease until risks are contained and the appropriate licensed waste contractor is engaged.

Incident reporting, first aid and emergency response arrangements are in place for all operational locations. All accidents, incidents and near misses must be reported promptly, recorded and investigated to prevent recurrences. A clear chain of command for emergencies will be maintained and periodic drills conducted. First aid provision, suitable fire extinguishers and spill kits will be available and kept in good order.

Monitoring, audit and continuous improvement are central to this policy. Regular site inspections, vehicle checks and operational audits will measure compliance with safety standards and the effectiveness of risk controls. Records of inspections, maintenance, training and incident investigations will be retained and reviewed. Where deficiencies are found, corrective actions will be prioritised and documented.

Contractors and subcontractors engaged to perform work on our behalf must adhere to this policy and demonstrate equivalent health and safety standards. They will be required to provide evidence of relevant competence, insurance and method statements where applicable. Collaborative planning will reduce overlap of risks where multiple parties operate on a single site.

Policy review and responsibility: This policy will be reviewed at least annually or more frequently if there are significant changes to operations, legislation or following a serious incident. Senior management retains overall responsibility for its implementation while designated safety leads will manage day-to-day compliance. By adopting and enforcing these measures, the skip hire operation and rubbish clearance service commits to protecting people, property and the environment through a structured and proportionate approach to health and safety.