Health and Safety Policy — Commercial Waste Removal Highgate

Policy overview: This Health and Safety Policy sets out the principles, duties and arrangements for safe operations by our Commercial Waste Removal Highgate teams and supporting staff. It applies to all commercial rubbish removal activities in the company's service area, including contract collections, site clearances and temporary holding of waste. The aim is to prevent injury and ill health, protect property and the environment, and ensure compliance with applicable laws and recognised standards for waste carriers and timber, metal and mixed-load handling. The company endorses proactive safety management across every stage of waste handling.

Management commitment: Responsibility for safety rests with senior management who will provide the resources and leadership to deliver safe commercial waste collection Highgate services. Supervisors and team leaders must enforce safe working procedures and ensure that work is properly planned, risk-assessed and adequately supervised. All employees, drivers and subcontractors are required to co-operate, follow instructions, report hazards and participate in safety training. Zero tolerance applies to unsafe acts that endanger colleagues or members of the public.

Scope and applicability: This policy covers routine collections, containerised waste movements, commercial skip handling, ad-hoc clearance projects and transfer activities within the wider rubbish company service area. It addresses common risks such as manual handling, vehicle movements, lifting operations, slips/trips, sharps and potential hazardous substances. Where specialist hazardous waste is encountered the company will apply separate controlled procedures for disposal and transfer.

Risk assessment and control measures

Risk assessments will be prepared for all tasks and reviewed when conditions change. Control measures include safe systems of work, PPE, segregation of waste streams and exclusion zones during lifting or loading. Employees must follow safe lifting techniques and use mechanical aids where provided. The company will ensure that:

• All jobs have an assessed method statement before work commences.
• PPE such as gloves, high-visibility clothing, safety boots and eye protection is supplied and maintained.
• Traffic management and banksman arrangements are in place for commercial waste collection and container movements.

Hazardous materials and COSHH

Where potentially hazardous substances are present, assessments will be carried out in accordance with COSHH principles. Flammable, corrosive or toxic wastes must be segregated and labelled, and staff handling them will receive specific training. Spill kits and containment equipment will be available on vehicles and at depots. In addition, sharps and medical-type waste will be handled only by trained personnel using appropriate containment.

Training and competence: All employees and drivers will receive induction training and task-specific instruction. Ongoing competence checks, refresher training and licence checks for drivers and plant operators are mandatory. Contractors and temporary staff will be vetted for safety competence before authorisation to work on commercial rubbish removal contracts. Supervisors will maintain records of training and qualifications.

Incident reporting and emergency response: All incidents, near misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported promptly. The company maintains clear reporting lines and investigation procedures to identify root causes and implement corrective actions. First aid provision and emergency contact arrangements are defined for each site and vehicle. Emergency drills will be conducted periodically and the results reviewed to improve readiness.

Monitoring, auditing and review: The effectiveness of this policy will be monitored through routine inspections, vehicle checks, incident trend analysis and internal audits. Records of maintenance, risk assessments, training and inspections will be retained and reviewed. Senior management will review the policy annually or following significant incidents or regulatory changes to ensure continuous improvement of safety performance across the rubbish company service area.

Operational controls and responsibilities

Operational controls include scheduling to avoid peak pedestrian times where possible, secure loading practices, clear signage and exclusion zones during operations. Drivers must ensure loads are correctly secured and tarped where required. Vehicle maintenance schedules and daily walkaround checks are compulsory. Contractors are required to provide evidence of adequate insurance and safety arrangements before being engaged for commercial waste removal duties.

Worker participation and communication

Employees are encouraged to raise safety concerns through formal channels. Toolbox talks, site briefings and safety notices will be used to communicate risks and safe working practices. The company will consult staff representatives on changes that affect health and safety and will seek employee input when designing controls for routine and non-routine tasks.

Legal compliance and continuous improvement: The company will comply with relevant health and safety legislation and industry guidance for waste management and removal. Records will demonstrate due diligence in planning and execution of commercial rubbish removal services. The policy will be available to employees and made accessible to contractors. Regular review and progressive improvement of procedures will underpin safer operations and a reduction in incidents.

Scope of enforcement: Failure to follow this policy may result in disciplinary action. Managers are responsible for ensuring that the policy is implemented and workers are held accountable for unsafe acts or omissions. This policy is a living document and forms part of the overall legal compliance framework for commercial waste operations across the company's service area.

Endorsement: The leadership team endorses this Health and Safety Policy and expects every employee and contractor to adopt these standards as a condition of their engagement. By working together and maintaining vigilance, we aim to deliver safe, reliable and compliant waste removal services for our commercial clients.

Signed on behalf of the company — Policy owner: Operations Director. Review date: annually or sooner if required.