Health & Safety Policy for Commercial Waste Removal Herne Hill

This Health and Safety Policy sets out the commitment of our commercial waste removal operation to protect employees, contractors, visitors and the general public across our rubbish company service area. The aim is to provide a clear statement of responsibilities and practical controls that apply to all aspects of commercial waste collection, transfer and disposal undertaken by the business. The policy supports safe delivery of waste removal services while ensuring compliance with applicable health and safety requirements and accepted industry practice.

Scope and remit

This policy applies to every element of our commercial rubbish collection and waste removal Herne Hill activities including on-site bin handling, vehicle loading and unloading, depot operations and third-party transfer stations. It covers routine collections, bespoke commercial clearances and any ancillary work such as recycling segregation and compacting. The policy is designed to be read alongside specific risk assessments, method statements and permit requirements relevant to particular contracts.

Key objectives include:

• Preventing injury and ill-health to staff and others;
• Maintaining safe plant, vehicles and equipment used in waste collection;
• Controlling risks associated with hazardous and mixed waste streams;
• Ensuring continuous improvement through monitoring and review.

Organisation and responsibilities

The company director retains overall accountability for health and safety. Managers and supervisors are responsible for implementing this policy within their teams and sites. All employees engaged in waste removal services must cooperate with control measures and report hazards promptly. Contractors working on behalf of the rubbish company service area must demonstrate competence and comply with site-specific safety requirements before starting any work.

Specific roles and duties include:

• Senior management: policy setting, resource allocation and regulatory liaison;
• Site supervisors: risk assessment oversight, permit issuance and day-to-day compliance checks;
• Drivers and loaders: safe vehicle operation, correct manual handling and proper segregation of waste;
• All staff: reporting incidents, using PPE and attending training.

Risk assessment and control measures

Formal risk assessments are carried out for each type of operation and updated whenever there is a change in process, equipment or legislation. Controls follow the hierarchy: eliminate where feasible, substitute, use engineering controls, implement safe systems of work and finally provide suitable personal protective equipment (PPE). Common risks addressed include manual handling, slips and trips, vehicle movements, exposure to sharps or hazardous materials and mechanical hazards from compactors and lift gear.

To manage hazardous or potentially infectious wastes the company operates strict segregation, labelling and containment procedures. Waste streams that require specialist handling are identified prior to collection and are transported in accordance with relevant carriage and hazardous waste rules. Emergency procedures are in place for spills, exposure incidents and vehicle accidents, including prompt notification, containment, decontamination and investigation.

Training, competence and supervision are central to safe operations. Staff receive induction covering safe working practices, PPE use, manual handling techniques and incident reporting. Drivers and plant operators hold current licences or certifications where required. Ongoing refresher training, toolbox talks and practical assessments ensure competence is maintained across the commercial waste management team.

The company provides and enforces the use of appropriate PPE including high-visibility clothing, safety footwear, gloves suitable for waste handling and respiratory protection where needed. Equipment maintenance schedules ensure vehicles and lifting devices are serviceable, inspected and defected items are removed from service until repaired.

Monitoring, incident reporting and review

Performance is monitored through regular workplace inspections, vehicle checks, near-miss recording and incident investigations. All incidents are reported and investigated to identify root causes and corrective actions. Records of training, risk assessments, maintenance and incident reports are retained to demonstrate compliance and to support continual improvement within the rubbish removal and waste collection services.

Contractors and partners are required to provide evidence of their safety management and insurance cover prior to engagement. Where necessary the company will supervise contractor activity and carry out joint risk assessments to manage interface risks between different parties working in the same area. This supports a consistent standard of safety across the wider service area without reliance on a single operator's practices.

In summary, this Health & Safety Policy reflects a commitment to safe commercial waste removal operations, reducing harm across the service area and meeting statutory obligations. It will be reviewed at least annually or more frequently following significant change, incident or new legal requirements. The policy is supported by local procedures, risk assessments and training programmes designed to embed a culture of safety across all aspects of our commercial rubbish collection and waste removal Herne Hill activities.