Health and Safety Policy for Business Waste Removal Merton

This policy sets out the commitments and procedures for safe, compliant and effective commercial refuse and rubbish collection across our service area. It applies to all employees, contractors, drivers and site operatives engaged in business waste removal, commercial rubbish clearance and related activities. The objective is to protect people, property and the environment by managing risks associated with business waste collection, secure transfer and disposal.

We are committed to continuous improvement and to maintaining a safe work culture. Every member of the team has a role to play and senior management will provide the resources, training and oversight required to meet this policy.

Scope and responsibilities

This policy covers all operational activities including scheduled waste collection, ad-hoc commercial skip services, hazardous material handling, vehicle movements and depot operations. Managers must ensure risk assessments are completed; supervisors must enforce controls; and staff must follow safe systems of work. Contractors and subcontractors operating in our rubbish company service area must demonstrate equivalent health and safety standards before engagement.

Risk assessment and control measures

We carry out documented risk assessments for typical tasks such as manual handling of heavy refuse bags, lifting bulky items, operating compactors and depots stacking. Identified hazards are controlled using a hierarchy: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls and PPE. Controls include clear segregation of waste streams, safe loading/unloading zones, signed traffic routes for outgoing vehicles and locked storage for hazardous materials.

Training, competence and supervision — All operatives complete induction training specific to commercial waste removal and ongoing competency checks. Training topics include correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE), manual handling techniques, chemical awareness for hazardous wastes, vehicle safety and first aid. Supervisors record refresher training and ensure new risks introduced by changes in service area operations are communicated immediately. Competence is verified through observation, toolbox talks and practical assessments.

PPE and equipment safety

Appropriate PPE is provided and must be worn where required: high-visibility clothing, gloves, safety boots, eye protection and respiratory protection for specific tasks. Vehicles and mechanical equipment are maintained under a planned maintenance regime. All lifting equipment, tail lifts and compactors receive regular inspections and test records are kept. Faulty equipment must be taken out of service and reported without delay.

Vehicle operations and traffic management — Safe driving, vehicle loading limits and segregation of pedestrian routes are enforced across all sites in the rubbish removal service area. Drivers must complete vehicle walk-round checks, secure loads correctly and follow speed limits within depots and customer premises. Reversing risk is minimised with banksmen or reversing alarms where appropriate. Emergency vehicle procedures are in place for incidents on public highways.

Handling hazardous and controlled wastes

Hazardous items such as contaminated materials, oils, solvents, asbestos-like materials and certain batteries are managed under designated procedures. Where wastes are classified as hazardous, operatives follow segregation, labelling and packaging standards, and only authorised personnel handle transfer notes and documentation. Safe containment and transport are priorities to prevent spills, contamination and exposure.

Incident reporting, emergency response and first aid

All incidents, near-misses and accidents are reported immediately through the company reporting system. Emergency procedures cover spill response, fire, chemical exposure and vehicle incidents. First aid equipment and trained personnel are available at depots and larger sites; minor injuries are recorded and serious incidents are reported to the appropriate authorities in line with regulatory requirements. Corrective actions are implemented and lessons learned shared across the rubbish company service area.

Health, welfare and occupational health — We promote employee wellbeing through access to occupational health services, vaccination programmes where relevant, and systems to report work-related stress or fatigue. Manual handling risks are reduced by mechanical aids and team-lift techniques. Noise, dust and vibration exposures are assessed and controlled to safe levels.

Contractors and customer site management — Contractors engaged for commercial waste clearance are required to provide evidence of competency, insurance and their own health and safety arrangements. Prior to work commencing at customer premises, a site-specific risk assessment is completed and boundaries of responsibility are agreed in writing. Where work is carried out within other organisations, coordination meetings and permit-to-work systems help manage shared risks.

Monitoring, audit and performance review — Health and safety performance is monitored through inspections, audits and key performance indicators such as incident rates, corrective action closure rates and training completion. Senior management review safety performance quarterly and set targets for continuous improvement. Non-compliance is addressed promptly with remedial plans and follow-up checks.

Policy review and continuous improvement — This policy is reviewed at least annually or sooner if there are significant changes to operations, legislation or after a serious incident. Feedback from staff and operational audits informs updates to procedures, training and risk controls. Our goal is a safe, efficient and legally compliant rubbish removal and business waste collection service across the service area.

Commitment statement — Management, supervisors and operatives are committed to implementing this Health and Safety policy. Everyone involved in business waste removal, commercial rubbish clearance and related services must comply with the standards and procedures described here. By working together we will maintain a safe workplace, protect the public and minimise environmental impact across the service area.

Signed on behalf of management — Policy adoption is supported by documented responsibilities, resourcing and review mechanisms to ensure ongoing effectiveness.

End of policy — This document is the authoritative statement of our health and safety approach to business waste removal and rubbish collection services and will be made available to staff and contractors as required.