Health & Safety Policy — Enfield Skip Hire

This Health and Safety Policy defines the commitments and practical measures adopted by Enfield Skip Hire to protect employees, contractors, clients and members of the public across our rubbish removal and skip hire operations. The policy covers skip delivery, collection, on-site waste segregation and vehicle operations in the service area. It is designed to be clear, actionable and regularly reviewed to reflect changing legislation and operational experience. Safety is a core part of our service delivery and underpins how we manage risk in every job.

Our objectives are simple: to prevent workplace injury and ill health, to ensure safe working environments for those handling waste and to provide consistent, reliable rubbish collection services. We will achieve these objectives by implementing risk assessments, training and supervision, and by maintaining plant and equipment to safe standards. Prevention and continuous improvement are emphasised throughout the organisation, with clear lines of responsibility for safety management.

All staff, including drivers, yard operatives and office teams, are required to follow safe systems of work. Specific duties include adhering to traffic and site controls, securing skips safely, following manual handling guidance, and identifying hazardous materials such as asbestos, contaminated soils or chemical wastes. Supervisors will ensure that task briefings are provided before work starts and that safe working procedures are applied for each job.

Risk Assessment and Operational Controls

We carry out and record formal risk assessments for routine activities and for one-off or complex jobs. Assessments identify hazards, evaluate risk, and set out control measures. Controls include proper skip placement to prevent obstruction, use of banksmen and cones when working near traffic, and strict exclusion of unauthorised persons from work zones. Personal protective equipment (PPE) such as hi-vis clothing, gloves, safety boots and eye protection is mandatory where risks are present.

Equipment safety is maintained through scheduled inspections, pre-use checks and prompt repair or replacement of defective items. Our fleet is serviced in line with manufacturer recommendations, and vehicles used for rubbish removal are fitted with appropriate securement devices to prevent load shift. Operators are trained in reversing procedures and use of vehicle-mounted safety systems. Vehicle safety is a priority both on public roads and at client sites.

Handling of hazardous waste is strictly controlled. Materials identified as hazardous are segregated and managed in accordance with waste classification protocols. Staff receive training on recognising hazardous items and on the company process to quarantine and arrange specialist disposal. Under no circumstances should hazardous waste be loaded into standard skips without prior approval and appropriate containment.

Training, Competence and Communication

Employees receive induction training and ongoing refresher courses covering safe manual handling, correct skip loading techniques, correct use of PPE and emergency procedures. We assess competence for specific roles, such as vehicle operation and site supervision, and maintain training records. Toolbox talks and briefings reinforce key safety messages and ensure staff understand responsibilities for safe rubbish collection and skip hire operations.

Reporting and investigation of incidents, near misses and safety concerns are essential to our approach. All incidents are reported promptly, investigated to identify root causes, and corrective actions are implemented to prevent recurrence. Lessons learned are shared with staff and contractors to improve safety outcomes across the rubbish company service area.

Our governance arrangements assign ultimate health and safety responsibility to senior management while delegating day-to-day duties to supervisors and appointed safety representatives. Regular audits, both internal and independent where appropriate, check compliance with this policy and with relevant statutory requirements. Management reviews ensure the policy remains proportionate to the scale and nature of operations.

Safe site management extends to customer interactions; we provide clear guidance to clients about skip placement, load restrictions and safety around their property. Customers are advised not to overfill skips, to avoid placing prohibited items inside skips, and to keep areas around skips clear to reduce trip hazards. Cooperation between site teams and customers reduces risk during deliveries and collections.

We commit to continual improvement in environmental health and safety performance. This includes investing in staff training, safer plant, and systems that support better waste segregation and handling. Our approach balances operational efficiency with robust safety controls so that rubbish removal and skip hire services are delivered without compromising the wellbeing of people or the community.

Policy review: This policy is reviewed at least annually and updated following significant incidents or operational changes. All employees have a duty to co-operate with the policy and to bring forward suggestions for improvement. Strong leadership, competent supervision and active participation by every team member are the foundations of a safer workplace for all.