Health & Safety Policy — Skip Hire Mortlake

Skip Hire Mortlake is committed to maintaining the highest standards of health and safety across all rubbish collection and skip hire activities. This policy sets out the approach we take to manage risks, protect our employees, contractors, customers, and the public, and ensure environmental safeguards are observed when providing skip hire services. The purpose of this document is to explain responsibilities, safe systems of work, and the standards expected of everyone connected with our operations.

We recognise that operating a skip hire company and conducting rubbish removal presents a variety of hazards, including manual handling, vehicle movements, waste segregation risks, and exposure to hazardous materials. Risk assessment and ongoing training underpin our efforts to prevent incidents and to continuously improve site and transport safety. The policy applies to all premises, vehicles, and sites where we supply rented containers or manage waste removal.

Policy Scope: This health and safety policy applies to all employees, subcontractors and anyone acting on behalf of the skip hire service. It covers skip loading and unloading, waste handling, vehicle operations, customer site visits, and depot procedures. The policy supports statutory requirements and best practice without attempting to replicate legislation verbatim.

Responsibilities and Leadership

Senior management provide visible leadership and ensure that resources are allocated to implement this policy effectively. The senior management team will: maintain and review this policy; ensure safe systems of work are introduced; and support training and supervision. Managers and supervisors are accountable for implementing the policy at operational level and for ensuring that all staff understand their roles in maintaining safety during rubbish disposal and skip hire delivery.

Employees and contractors must follow safe working practices, report hazards and incidents promptly, and participate in training. All staff will receive site-specific induction training, defensive driving updates for vehicle crews, and instruction on correct waste segregation and containment. We promote a culture where safety concerns are raised without fear of reprisal and where corrective actions are taken swiftly.

Contractors engaged for specialised tasks must demonstrate suitable evidence of competency, insurance and their own safety arrangements. Subcontractor work will be monitored and reviewed regularly to ensure alignment with our health and safety standards for skip hire and rubbish collection operations.

Risk Management and Safe Systems

Our risk management approach includes regular site and vehicle inspections, robust procedures for loading and securing skips, and measures to control manual handling and lifting tasks. The following control measures are emphasised:

• Dynamic risk assessments at each site to identify hazards such as uneven ground, overhead services, or hazardous waste.
• Use of appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment) for all operatives handling rubbish or working around moving vehicles.
• Clear segregation of waste types to reduce contamination and safe disposal of hazardous items in accordance with regulations.
• Vehicle checks before departure and secure load procedures to prevent spills and protect other road users.

We maintain written procedures for emergency response, spill control, and first aid provision. Regular drills and reviews ensure that both depot and roadside incidents are managed efficiently and safely.

Training, Monitoring and Continuous Improvement: Training is tailored to roles and refreshed regularly, with records maintained to demonstrate competence. We use incident reporting, near-miss investigation and performance monitoring to identify trends and to implement improvements in our rubbish removal and skip hire processes. Audits are conducted periodically to measure compliance with this policy and to make corrective actions where needed.

Communication is essential: operational briefings, toolbox talks and written updates ensure that everyone is aware of risk controls and any changes to procedures. We encourage employee input into safety decisions and welcome suggestions that improve safety for our teams and the communities we serve.

Legal and Regulatory Compliance: As a responsible rubbish company and skip hire operator we will comply with applicable health, safety and environmental legislation. We will maintain appropriate records, licences and waste transfer documentation to demonstrate compliance with statutory requirements without reproducing legal texts within this policy statement.

Review and Policy Maintenance: This health and safety policy will be reviewed at least annually and after any significant incident, operational change, or regulatory update. Revisions will be communicated to all affected personnel and incorporated into training and operational guides. Senior management endorse this policy and are committed to its delivery.

By adhering to these principles, the skip hire company ensures that rubbish collection, site operations and vehicle movements are conducted safely, responsibly and with respect for the environment. Everyone connected with our operations has a role to play in reducing risk and protecting health and safety.

Signed on behalf of Skip Hire Mortlake — this document represents the company’s commitment to sustaining safe, lawful and effective skip hire services and rubbish removal practices.