Health & Safety Policy for Business Waste Removal Erith

This policy sets out the approach to health and safety for our commercial and business waste operations. It applies to all staff, contractors and any third parties engaged in business waste removal and rubbish clearance across our service area. The organisation is committed to protecting the health, safety and welfare of everyone affected by our activities and to ensuring that safe systems of work are in place, maintained and improved. Our priority is to reduce risk and deliver safe, compliant waste removal services for clients and the community.

Scope and Objectives

The policy covers all elements of the waste removal process including collection, transfer, sorting, temporary storage and final disposal. It includes commercial waste removal Erith operations, contractual work, vehicle movements, on-site manual handling and any temporary works. Objectives include ensuring legal compliance, providing appropriate training, implementing risk controls and maintaining effective communication. We will aim to prevent work-related injury and ill health, encourage reporting of hazards and ensure lessons learnt are applied consistently.

Responsibilities are clearly defined and allocated. Senior management has overall accountability for health and safety and will ensure adequate resources are provided. Supervisors and team leaders must implement controls and monitor day-to-day compliance. Every employee, temporary worker and contractor has a duty to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others, to follow safe working procedures, to use provided equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE), and to report hazards, incidents or near misses immediately.

Risk Assessment and Control Measures

We undertake systematic risk assessments for all aspects of our rubbish removal services and keep records of findings and remedial actions. Controls follow the hierarchy: elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative and PPE. Examples include vehicle safety checks, segregation of hazardous items, secure loading and containment, safe waste handling methods, and appropriate signposting of work zones. Control measures are reviewed whenever there is a change to operations, new equipment is introduced, or after an incident.

Training, competence and supervision are central to safe operations. All operatives receive induction training, job-specific instruction and regular refresher courses. Training covers manual handling, use of lifting aids, vehicle loading and unloading, safe use of tools, identification and segregation of hazardous wastes, and emergency procedures. Competence is verified through observation and records. Supervisors provide on-site oversight to ensure safe systems of work are followed.

Personal Protective Equipment and Health

We supply and require the use of adequate PPE including hi-vis clothing, gloves, safety footwear, eye protection and respiratory protection where required. A health surveillance programme is in place for roles with specific exposures. Staff are encouraged to report medical concerns and request adjustments or alternative duties where necessary. The organisation promotes wellbeing and the prevention of work-related stress as part of overall safety management.

Safe vehicle operations and traffic management are key to reducing risk during business and commercial waste collection. Vehicles are inspected and maintained to industry standards; drivers are authorised, trained and assessed for competence. Worksite traffic routes are planned to separate pedestrians and vehicles where possible, and where temporary works are established, suitable barriers and controls are used. Loading limits are observed and waste is secured to prevent shifting during transit.

Incident reporting, investigation and corrective action: all incidents, near misses and unsafe conditions must be reported immediately through the internal reporting process. Investigations are carried out proportionate to the event to identify root causes and to implement corrective and preventative actions. Records are maintained centrally to enable trend analysis and improvement of the overall rubbish collection and waste removal service provision.

Compliance, review and continuous improvement: We will comply with applicable health and safety legislation and industry standards relevant to waste collection and disposal. This policy is reviewed at least annually and following significant changes in operations, technology or after serious incidents. Performance is monitored through audits, inspections and key performance indicators so that continuous improvement in safety performance is demonstrable. Strong leadership and visible commitment at all levels are expected to embed a positive safety culture across the organisation.

The organisation will ensure that suitable resources — financial, human and technical — are made available to implement this policy. Contractors are selected and managed to ensure they meet required health and safety standards and operate in a manner consistent with our expectations. Subcontracted rubbish removal or clearance work is monitored through regular review and site checks to confirm compliance with agreed standards.

Emergency preparedness and resilience: emergency arrangements include spillage control, first aid provision, fire precautions, and procedures for dealing with hazardous waste incidents. Emergency contacts and arrangements are documented in operational plans and communicated to personnel likely to be involved. Exercises and drills are conducted periodically to verify readiness and to familiarise teams with duties during an emergency.

All employees are required to read, understand and comply with this Health & Safety Policy for business waste removal. Non-compliance may result in disciplinary action and will be addressed through training and management action to prevent recurrence. Commitment to safety is integral to our provision of reliable, responsible rubbish removal and waste transfer services within the service area, and to protecting the health of staff, clients and the public.