Company vehicle and skip at a roadside collection point

Merton Skip Hire Health and Safety Policy

Introduction: This Health and Safety policy sets out the approach adopted by Merton Skip Hire to manage risks associated with waste collection, skip hire and rubbish removal across our service area. The objective is to protect our employees, contractors, clients and the public while delivering efficient rubbish company and waste management services. The policy is applicable to all operational activities including collection, transportation and disposal tasks, and is reviewed regularly to reflect changes in operations.

Policy Statement

Core commitment: We are committed to providing a safe working environment and to minimising health and safety risks arising from rubbish collection, skip hire operations and waste handling. Our management will maintain systems to control hazards, provide appropriate training and ensure that safety responsibilities are known and acted upon. The duty to ensure safety is shared by management and staff at every level.

Worker performing risk assessment on skip loading procedure

Risk Assessment and Control Measures

Risk assessments are carried out for all routine and non-routine tasks carried out by our rubbish company, with controls implemented to reduce the likelihood and severity of incidents. Controls include safe systems of work, mechanical aids for lifting, secure loading procedures for skips, traffic management during collections and clear segregation of hazardous materials. Records of assessments and reviews are maintained and updated when operations change or new hazards are identified.

Responsibilities and Duties

Management duties include ensuring risk assessments are completed, providing appropriate equipment and supervising safe work. Employee duties include following safe systems, reporting hazards, using personal protective equipment (PPE) and participating in training. The following summarises key roles and responsibilities:

Site supervisors: implement safety procedures and monitor compliance.
Drivers and operatives: ensure vehicles and skips are secure and report defects.
Office staff: support scheduling to avoid rushed collections that increase risk.

Team in PPE loading a skip using lifting aid

Training, Competence and PPE

We provide induction and ongoing training for all staff involved in rubbish collection and skip hire operations. This covers manual handling, correct use of lifting aids, safe tipping and loading practices and vehicle safety checks. Appropriate PPE is supplied and must be worn for tasks such as handling bulky waste, sharps, or contaminated materials. Training records are kept and competence is assessed periodically to ensure operational safety and efficiency.

Vehicle, Plant and Equipment Safety

Vehicles and plant used in our waste management and rubbish removal services are maintained under a planned maintenance regime. Pre-shift vehicle checks, secure loading of skips, and safe reversing practices are enforced to reduce the risk of accidents. Equipment inspection schedules and repair logs are kept up to date, and defective equipment is removed from service until repaired. Operators must be authorised and trained for the specific plant they use.

Operative managing segregated waste containers at a depot

Manual Handling and Ergonomics

Manual handling risks are minimised by using mechanical aids, team lifts and safe positioning techniques during lifting and carrying tasks. Staff are trained in ergonomics to reduce musculoskeletal injuries arising from repetitive tasks or awkward postures while loading skips or handling bulky items. Safe handling procedures also apply when dealing with recycled materials, heavy debris and irregular loads typical of rubbish company operations.

Waste Segregation and Hazardous Materials

Correct segregation of waste streams is enforced to protect operatives and the environment. Hazardous materials such as chemicals, asbestos-containing items or contaminated soils are identified, segregated and handled in accordance with statutory requirements and safe disposal practices. Staff are trained to identify suspect materials and to stop work and escalate where hazardous items are discovered during collections.

Emergency spill kit and first aid equipment beside a skip

Emergency Response and Incident Reporting

We maintain clear procedures for emergencies including spill control, fire response and medical incidents. Staff are trained in immediate response actions and in how to report incidents promptly so that corrective actions and root cause analysis can be undertaken. Incident records are reviewed to identify trends and prevent recurrence in waste collection and skip hire activities.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

Health and safety performance is monitored through regular site inspections, audits and performance metrics specific to our rubbish company service area. We set measurable targets for reducing incidents, improving near-miss reporting and increasing compliance with safe work procedures. Management reviews of the policy and performance occur at defined intervals to embed continuous improvement across all operations.

Commitment to Compliance

Legal and best practice standards are observed as a minimum; we adopt industry best practice to exceed baseline requirements where feasible. This policy forms part of our operational framework and all staff are expected to contribute to its successful implementation. By working together we ensure that our skip hire and waste collection services operate safely, responsibly and sustainably.