Business Waste Removal Ruislip: Health & Safety Policy

This Health and Safety policy sets out the commitment of our business waste removal service to protect the health, safety and welfare of all employees, contractors, clients and members of the public affected by our operations. Our rubbish collection and commercial waste removal activities will be carried out with appropriate planning, risk assessment and control measures to prevent injury and illness. We aim to maintain a safe working environment through training, supervision and continual improvement of safety practices across the rubbish company service area.

Our policy applies to all aspects of site-based and vehicle-based waste handling, including skip provision, domestic and commercial clearances, bulky waste collection and transfer activities. The scope includes permanent staff, temporary workers, sub-contractors and visitors when on duty or present during collections. Responsibilities are assigned at all levels to ensure that safety procedures are understood and followed. We recognise that safe waste management is integral to delivering reliable, efficient rubbish removal in our operating area.

We will adopt a precautionary approach to hazards commonly associated with waste operations: manual handling, sharps and contaminated materials, vehicle movements, slips and trips, and the handling of hazardous items. Risk assessments will be documented and reviewed periodically or when tasks change. Control measures include mechanical aids, segregation of waste streams, secure containment and appropriate disposal pathways for hazardous residues. Staff must not attempt to handle unknown hazardous materials without clearance and training.

Responsibilities and Management

Senior management will provide leadership, resources and oversight for health and safety. Managers are responsible for implementing this policy within the rubbish company service area and for ensuring that the workforce is competent for the tasks they perform. Employees are expected to cooperate with safety measures, follow safe systems of work, report hazards and take reasonable care of their own health and safety. Accountability is emphasised but we also support a collaborative safety culture where concerns can be raised openly.

Supervisors and team leaders must carry out site-specific briefings, maintain equipment logs and ensure that personal protective equipment (PPE) is available and used correctly. PPE requirements may include high-visibility clothing, gloves, eye protection and safety footwear depending on the task. Regular checks on vehicles and plant, including waste compactors and lifting devices, are mandatory to prevent mechanical failures and incidents during commercial waste removal operations.

To support safe practice we provide induction training for all new staff, refresher training for existing staff and targeted competency sessions for specialist tasks. Training records will be kept and reviewed. Health surveillance will be provided where risks may impact long-term health. We also maintain procedures for incident reporting and investigation to identify root causes and prevent recurrence.

Operational Controls and Safe Systems

Vehicle operations and site logistics are managed to reduce collision risks and pedestrian exposure. Loading areas are planned to separate vehicle routes from public access where possible. Manual handling is reduced through the use of lifting equipment and team lift protocols. The following key controls are enforced across our rubbish removal zones:

• Pre-shift vehicle checks to confirm brakes, lights and load restraints are functional.
• Segregation of hazardous wastes and clear labelling to prevent cross-contamination.
• Safe parking and reversing procedures including use of banksmen where appropriate.

Emergency arrangements are documented and communicated to staff. First aid provision, spill response kits and procedures for dealing with sharps or chemical contamination are available. Where incidents occur, they will be reported promptly, recorded and investigated with corrective actions tracked to completion. We emphasise learning from events to strengthen our rubbish removal practices across the service area.

Monitoring, review and continuous improvement are central to this policy. We will set measurable safety objectives, conduct regular audits and review performance against those objectives. Safety meetings and toolbox talks will be used to engage staff in hazard recognition and encourage suggestions for safer working methods. This policy will be reviewed annually or sooner if there are significant changes to operations, legislation or after a serious incident. Our goal is to provide a dependable, safe rubbish removal service that protects people and the environment.