Health and Safety Policy for Business Waste Removal Marylebone

Welcome to our Health and Safety Policy statement for business waste operations. This policy sets out how our commercial waste and rubbish company service area manages health, safety and welfare across all activities. The aim is to protect employees, contractors, clients and the public by minimising risk from waste collection, transfer and disposal. Our approach is proportionate and practical: we identify hazards, assess risks and implement controls so that our rubbish removal and commercial waste collection practice remains safe, compliant and efficient.

Scope and application: this policy applies to all staff, subcontractors and anyone working on behalf of the company within the defined rubbish company service area. It covers routine collections, skip services, on-site bulk removal, vehicle loading and unloading, and transfer station activities. The policy is intended as an operational and legal framework: it outlines responsibilities, required training, personal protective equipment (PPE), and procedures for dealing with specific waste streams, including potentially hazardous items.

Responsibilities and management

Senior management retains overall accountability for health and safety, while operational managers are responsible for implementation on the ground. Employees must follow safe systems of work and report hazards. Key responsibilities include:

• Risk assessment: conduct and record risk assessments for routine and non-routine tasks.
• Training: ensure all operatives receive induction and ongoing competency checks.
• Equipment: maintain vehicles and handling equipment to a safe, serviceable standard.
• Supervision: provide competent supervision and review of high-risk operations.

Risk control measures and safe working practices

We apply the hierarchy of control: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls and PPE. For waste handling this includes route planning to reduce manual handling, mechanical lifting aids where practicable, segregation of waste types at source, and secure containment during transit. Staff are to use appropriate PPE (gloves, high-visibility clothing, safety footwear, eye protection) and follow known safe lifting techniques. Vehicles operate within pre-defined limits for load securing and driver hours to reduce incidents in the rubbish removal service area.

Segregation of waste is enforced to reduce exposure to hazardous materials and to meet regulatory obligations. Our procedures require that sharps, chemical containers, electrical equipment and contaminated materials are identified and managed separately. Where hazardous waste is encountered during routine collections, staff must apply immediate control measures: cordon off the area if necessary, inform the manager, and follow the hazardous waste protocol to ensure safe containment and specialist disposal.

Training, competence and induction form an essential pillar of our safety culture. New staff receive comprehensive induction covering manual handling, vehicle safety, spill response, fire prevention and emergency procedures. Refresher training is scheduled regularly, and specific modules are provided for drivers, plant operators and supervisors. Record keeping of training and medical fitness assessments supports the delivery of a competent workforce across our commercial waste collection operations.

Incident reporting and investigation: all incidents, near misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported immediately via the company reporting system. Investigations are conducted to identify root causes and corrective actions. Lessons learned are communicated to teams to prevent recurrence. Where incidents involve significant harm or statutory reporting thresholds are met, the company will cooperate fully with regulators and enforce remedial measures across the rubbish removal service area.

Vehicle and site safety: vehicles are subject to routine maintenance and pre-shift checks. Drivers must perform walkaround inspections and report defects. Loading areas and client sites are assessed for safe access; staff must ensure sufficient space and visibility when manoeuvring. Traffic management and signing are used on-site to protect operatives and pedestrians. The company enforces mobile phone and PPE usage policies to prevent distractions and promote safe working.

Health surveillance and wellbeing: where job roles present exposure to dusts, solvents or biological agents, health surveillance is provided in line with occupational health guidance. The company supports employee wellbeing through fatigue management, welfare facilities and access to professional health services when required. Promoting a positive safety culture encourages staff to speak up about risks and to participate in continual improvement activities.

Monitoring, audit and continual improvement underpin our policy. Regular safety audits, toolbox talks and management reviews assess performance against objectives. Key performance indicators include incident rates, corrective action completion and training compliance. Improvements identified through audits or incident investigations are implemented promptly and tracked to completion.

Enforcement and policy review: non-compliance with this policy may result in disciplinary action. The policy is reviewed at least annually or following significant change to operations, legislation, or after a serious incident. This ensures the policy remains effective, proportionate and aligned with best practice within the rubbish removal and commercial waste collection sector. By following these measures, the company aims to deliver safe, reliable and lawful business waste removal services while protecting people and the environment.