Health & Safety Policy for Commercial Waste Removal Hammersmith

Purpose: This Health and Safety policy sets out the standards and practices for our commercial waste removal Hammersmith operations and associated rubbish collection service areas. It describes the responsibilities of management, supervisors and operatives to prevent injury, protect health and avoid pollution. The policy is designed to be clear, practical and proportionate to the risks encountered when providing a commercial rubbish collection across our service area.

Scope and Responsibilities

The policy applies to all staff, contractors and visitors engaged in commercial waste removal in Hammersmith and surrounding service areas. Management will ensure suitable resources and systems are in place to implement this policy, including appointment of competent persons for health and safety oversight. Supervisors must ensure safe working methods are followed and that training, equipment and supervision meet the operational demands of the waste removal service.

Worker Duties

Every operative is required to follow safe systems of work, use provided personal protective equipment and report hazards or incidents promptly. Staff must not improvise unsafe practices for speed. The rubbish company service area teams will be briefed on site-specific risks, vehicle loading limits and lifting techniques; adherence to these measures is mandatory to reduce manual handling injuries and vehicle-related incidents.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems

We carry out documented risk assessments for all routine tasks, special collections and atypical sites. Risk assessments will be reviewed whenever there is a change in method, equipment, vehicle type or when new hazards are identified. Controls will follow the hierarchy of risk management: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls and personal protective equipment as the final measure.

PPE and Training: Appropriate PPE such as gloves, hi-vis clothing, safety boots, eye protection and respiratory protection where required will be provided and maintained. Training programmes cover manual handling, vehicle safety, hazardous waste awareness and the safe use of lifting aids. Ongoing refresher training and toolbox talks support continual competence for teams operating within the commercial waste removal service area.

Vehicle, Plant and Site Safety

Vehicles and plant used for commercial rubbish removal are inspected regularly and maintained to a safe standard. Drivers and vehicle crews follow safe vehicle operating procedures, including secure loading, restraint of loads and safe access/egress. Yard and site procedures control movement of vehicles and pedestrians to reduce collision and crush risks in depots and customer locations.

Hazardous Materials and Waste Segregation: Where collections include potentially hazardous items (e.g. batteries, electronic waste, chemicals), these must be segregated, labelled and handled in accordance with applicable environmental and safety protocols. Permitted waste streams are identified in job briefings and any suspect hazardous waste is isolated and escalated to a competent manager for safe disposal by authorised routes.

Safe Handling Measures: The company requires the use of mechanical aids for heavy loads, job-specific lifting plans for irregular items and clear communication when executing lifts. Mechanical assistance is preferred to manual handling; where manual handling remains necessary, strict adherence to safe lifting techniques is enforced to reduce musculoskeletal injuries across the rubbish removal service area.

• Site risk briefings before work starts
• Routine vehicle checks and daily defect reporting
• Appropriate segregation of general, recyclable and hazardous waste
• Emergency spill kits and containment available on vehicles
• Recorded training and competency evidence for operatives

Emergency Response and Incident Reporting: Procedures for accidents, spills, fires and exposures are documented and communicated. All incidents must be reported without delay so that immediate remedial action and corrective measures can be taken. Incident investigations identify root causes and drive improvements. Records of incidents, near-misses and health surveillance are maintained and reviewed as part of the safety management process.

Monitoring, Audit and Performance: Regular site inspections, vehicle audits and operational observations are conducted to verify compliance. Safety performance indicators such as near-miss reports, lost time injuries and training completion rates are tracked. Findings from audits are used to set improvement actions and timelines, ensuring that the commercial waste removal operations maintain a high standard of safety across the service area.

Contractors and Subcontracted Services: Contractors engaged to support commercial waste collections must meet our safety standards and demonstrate competence. Contracts include clauses requiring adherence to this policy, evidence of training, insurance and risk assessments. Third-party teams operating on behalf of the rubbish collection service area are monitored to ensure that their activities do not compromise safety or environmental controls.

Review, Communication and Continuous Improvement: This policy is reviewed at planned intervals and after significant incidents or changes in operations. Safety information is communicated through briefings, notices and digital systems so that all personnel are aware of responsibilities. Continuous improvement is a core principle — feedback, audits and best-practice learning inform updates to procedures and training.

Policy Commitment: The management team is committed to providing a safe working environment for all those involved in providing commercial waste removal services and rubbish clearance across the service area. By promoting safe systems, appropriate resourcing and active worker participation we aim to minimise risks, comply with relevant safety standards and protect both people and the environment.

Signed on behalf of management: This policy is endorsed at the highest level and will be supported by clear responsibilities, documented procedures and routine review to ensure it remains effective for the full range of commercial rubbish removal activities that take place within our service area.