Skip hire vehicle parked at a safe site entrance with crew in high-visibility vests

Health and Safety Policy — Herne Hill Skip Hire

Herne Hill Skip Hire maintains a comprehensive and proactive Health and Safety Policy to protect employees, customers and the public during all aspects of rubbish removal and skip service operations. This policy sets out our commitment to reducing risk across skip delivery, site management, loading, transport and waste disposal. The policy applies to all staff, contractors and anyone working under our control, and is intended to be clear, practical and consistently implemented.

Supervisor conducting a site risk assessment before placing a skip

Policy Statement and Scope

We aim to provide a safe working environment for our skip hire and rubbish collection operations by preventing accidents, injuries and occupational ill health. This policy covers the provision, use and maintenance of equipment, manual handling, traffic management, hazardous waste handling and contractor coordination for skip hire Herne Hill operations. Our approach is risk-based, documented and reviewed regularly to reflect changes in work practices and legislation.

Responsibilities

The following roles have clear responsibilities to ensure the safety of skip service activities:

Management — provide resources, ensure risk assessments, maintain training and enforce safe systems of work.
Supervisors — implement operational controls, monitor compliance and manage site safety for rubbish removal tasks.
Employees — follow safe working procedures, use PPE correctly and report hazards or near misses.

All personnel engaged in skip operations must recognise that safety is a shared duty. Clear lines of accountability are maintained so that delivery crews and drivers can act promptly on safety instructions and refuse unsafe work where necessary.

Risk Assessment and Control Measures

A systematic risk assessment is conducted for every operational task, including delivery and siting of skips, customer site inspections, loading and transporting waste. Control measures implemented include:

Site surveys before placing skips to identify hazards and adequate space for vehicles.
Traffic management plans for safe access and egress on public roads and private sites.
Use of appropriate lifting equipment and correct manual handling techniques during loading to control musculoskeletal risk.

Training session showing staff correct manual handling and PPE for rubbish collection

Training, Competency and Supervision

Competent performance is vital for a rubbish removal company. We ensure all staff receive structured induction training, job-specific instruction and refresher courses for:

Vehicle and machinery operation (including safe use of skip-loaders).
Manual handling and correct loading practices for Herne Hill skips.
Identification and management of hazardous wastes such as asbestos, batteries, paints and chemicals.

Supervisors carry out on-the-job checks and coaching to ensure procedures are followed.

Personal Protective Equipment and Equipment Maintenance

Appropriate PPE is provided and must be used when handling waste or operating equipment. This includes high-visibility clothing, gloves, safety boots, eye protection and hard hats where required. All plant and vehicles are subject to regular inspection and maintenance schedules to ensure reliable, safe operation. Any defective equipment is taken out of service until repaired.

Safe Siting, Loading and Waste Segregation

Skips must be sited on stable, level ground with adequate clearance from traffic and pedestrian routes. Loading instructions are issued to customers and crew to avoid overfilling, which can create hazards during transport. Our skip service emphasizes correct segregation of waste streams to minimise contamination and ensure safe handling. Hazardous waste is identified, segregated and managed in accordance with legal requirements; such materials are not accepted into general skips where risks cannot be controlled.

Transport Safety and Vehicle Operations

Vehicle safety protocols include daily vehicle checks, securement of loads to prevent spillage, route planning to avoid sensitive areas and driver fatigue management. Drivers are trained in defensive driving and safe operation of skip-lifting mechanisms. For rubbish collection and skip transport, adherence to weight limits and load distribution rules is mandatory to maintain road safety.

Incident Reporting, Emergency Response and First Aid

First aid kit and incident report forms ready for emergency response All incidents, near-misses and unsafe situations are reported promptly through the company reporting system. Investigations identify root causes and corrective actions to prevent recurrence. We maintain first aid provision appropriate to the scale of operations, and emergency procedures are in place for fires, spillage or personal injury. Routine drills help ensure a prompt, coordinated response.

Skips correctly loaded and covered with secure straps ready for transport

Monitoring, Compliance and Continuous Improvement

We monitor performance through regular audits, inspections and review of incident data. Compliance with statutory duties and industry best practice is verified via internal checks and, when appropriate, external audits. Findings inform updates to procedures, training and risk controls so that our rubbish removal and skip hire services continue to improve safety and efficiency.

Environmental and Community Considerations

Our policy recognises the need to protect the environment and local amenity during skip hire activities. Measures include secure containment of loads to prevent litter, dust controls, proper disposal routes for segregated wastes and minimisation of noise and disturbance during deliveries. We strive to manage waste responsibly, prioritising reuse and recycling where feasible.

Policy Review and Communication

The Health and Safety Policy for our skip operations is reviewed at least annually or following significant changes to work practices, equipment or legislation. Updates are communicated to all staff and contractors to ensure continued understanding and implementation. This document forms the basis for safe, lawful operation of our skip and rubbish removal services.

Conclusion: Herne Hill Skip Hire is committed to maintaining a safe working environment through robust risk management, training, safe systems of work and continuous improvement. Everyone associated with our operations has a role in ensuring safety remains a core part of how we deliver skip hire and waste removal services.