Health and Safety Policy for Dulwich Skip Hire

Purpose and scope. This Health and Safety policy sets out the commitment of Dulwich Skip Hire to protect the health, safety and welfare of staff, contractors, customers and the public in relation to skip hire and rubbish collection operations. The policy applies to all skip hire services, waste collection activities and associated transport, waste handling and on-site loading wherever we operate. Our aim is to deliver reliable skip hire services while minimising risk and ensuring compliance with general safety standards and best practice across our service area.

Management at Dulwich skip hire recognises that safe working practices reduce accidents, prevent injury and protect property. We will ensure the provision of adequate resources to implement this policy, including appropriate training, equipment and supervision. Responsibilities are allocated to managers, supervisors and drivers to ensure consistent application of safety measures during delivery, siting, collection of skips and transfer of rubbish to authorised handling points.

Principles and commitments. We are committed to: preventing work-related injury and ill health, assessing and controlling workplace risks, providing clear instructions and adequate training, maintaining safe vehicles and equipment, and continually improving our safety performance.

Responsibilities and organisation

The board and senior management of skip hire Dulwich take ultimate responsibility for health and safety. Managers will ensure risk assessments are carried out and control measures implemented. Supervisors and drivers must follow safe systems of work and report hazards. Employees and operatives must cooperate with safety procedures, use provided protective equipment and report incidents, near-misses and unsafe conditions promptly.

Risk assessment and control measures. Systematic risk assessments will identify hazards associated with rubbish removal, skip loading, manual handling, vehicle movements and customer sites. Control measures include, but are not limited to:

• Vehicle and equipment maintenance: Regular inspections and servicing of lorries, grab vehicles and skips to ensure mechanical safety.
• PPE and manual handling: Provision of gloves, hi-vis clothing, steel-toe boots and guidance on safe lifting to reduce musculoskeletal injury.
• Site safety: Ensuring skips are sited on stable ground, away from obstructions, and sited to minimise risk to pedestrians and traffic.
• Waste segregation: Procedures for separating general waste, recyclable materials and hazardous items to reduce exposure to harmful substances.

Safe working procedures and training

All staff involved in skip hire and rubbish collection will receive training on safe working practices, vehicle operation, manual handling and dealing with hazardous materials. Training is provided at induction and refreshed periodically. Emergency procedures, including spill response and first-aid arrangements, are clearly documented and accessible to all employees. We will maintain records of training, competency and tailored instruction for specific roles.

Operational controls. Drivers and operatives must adhere to safe loading limits, ensure loads are secure before transit and comply with traffic safety measures during deliveries and collections. Where customers present contaminated or hazardous waste, operatives will follow isolation and containment procedures and contact appropriate supervisory staff for safe removal. Skip hire staff are instructed never to accept unknown chemical containers or asbestos-containing materials for routine collection.

Accident reporting and investigation. All accidents, incidents and near-misses related to skip hire and rubbish services must be reported immediately through internal reporting channels. Incidents will be investigated to identify root causes and to implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence. Lessons learned will be communicated across the organisation and used to update risk assessments and procedures.

Contractors and temporary staff used in rubbish collection or skip delivery must comply with this policy and demonstrate suitable competence. We require contractors to provide evidence of their own safety arrangements and to cooperate with our site-specific controls. Regular audits and inspections will monitor compliance with the policy, and non-conformances will be addressed through action plans and follow-up checks.

Monitoring, review and continual improvement. This policy will be reviewed at least annually and whenever there are significant changes to operations, equipment or legislation. Key performance indicators such as incident rates, training completion and audit findings will be monitored to measure effectiveness. Management will ensure continuous improvement in safety performance through investment in safer plant, driver-assist technologies and enhanced staff engagement.

Employee involvement and wellbeing. We encourage staff participation in safety committees and toolbox talks to ensure practical insights from day-to-day operations feed into policy development. Health and wellbeing initiatives, including access to occupational health advice and support for recovering employees, form part of our approach to maintain a productive, safe workforce.

By implementing these measures, Dulwich Skip Hire commits to delivering skip hire, waste collection and rubbish removal services that prioritise safety while meeting the needs of customers across our service area. This policy provides a framework for action; everyone employed or engaged by the business has a role to play in making our operations safer.

Authority and signature. Senior management endorses this policy and is responsible for ensuring its application and resourcing. Changes to the policy will be communicated to all staff, and copies will be made available for employees and contractors. Regular review will ensure this health and safety policy remains effective and aligned with evolving operational needs.

Commitment statement: We will work proactively to reduce hazards, protect our people and the public, and promote safe practices across all aspects of skip hire and rubbish handling. Together, with a culture of safety, Dulwich skip hire will maintain high standards of health and safety performance.