Health and Safety Policy — Golders Green Skip Hire and Rubbish Services

This Health and Safety policy outlines the commitments of Golders Green Skip Hire and its partners to maintain safe operations across skip hire, waste removal and general rubbish collection services. It sets clear responsibilities, operational standards and monitoring procedures that apply to all employees, sub-contractors and visitors working on or visiting sites within our service area. The policy emphasises prevention of harm, lawful waste handling and continuous improvement in safety performance. Scope includes skip delivery, collection, on-site loading and vehicle operations.

Policy Objectives and Scope

Our objectives are to minimise risk to people and property, to ensure legal compliance and to protect the environment during all skip hire and rubbish removal activities. The policy applies to company vehicles, site activities, waste transfer and temporary storage of materials. We adopt a proactive approach to risk control, ensuring that every job is planned and every team member understands their role. This includes identifying hazards associated with bulky waste, hazardous materials and manual handling tasks.

Responsibilities and Accountabilities

All staff and contractors have specific responsibilities. Senior management must provide resources and leadership, supervisors must implement safe systems of work, and operatives must follow instructions and wear appropriate personal protective equipment. The duty of care extends to ensuring skips are sited safely on public or private property and that traffic management and pedestrian safety are considered during deliveries and collections. Our rubbish company standards require documented task briefings and visible permits where applicable.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems

Golders Green skip hire operations are supported by documented risk assessments and method statements for all routine and non-routine tasks. Before work begins we carry out pre-job assessments to identify trip, fall, manual handling, and vehicle movement hazards. Controls include exclusion zones during loading, mechanical aids for heavy items, and clear exclusion markings. We emphasise hierarchy of controls: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls and PPE.

Training, Competence and Personal Safety

We commit to ensuring all operatives receive training relevant to skip hire, waste handling and rubbish removal tasks. Training covers manual handling, hazardous waste awareness, traffic management, and safe operation of lifting equipment. Competence is verified before staff work unsupervised. Staff are trained to use appropriate protective clothing and to conduct pre-operation vehicle and equipment checks. Regular toolbox talks reinforce safe behaviours and incident prevention, with records maintained for audit and continuous improvement.

Vehicle Safety and Environmental Controls

Fleet safety is central to our rubbish collection and skip delivery services. Vehicles are maintained to manufacturer and statutory standards, subject to pre-use inspections and scheduled maintenance. Drivers follow safe loading protocols to prevent shifting loads and overloading. Environmental controls include secure covering of loads, spill kits on board, and procedures to manage contaminants and prevent pollution. Waste segregation and lawful disposal are mandatory, ensuring compliance with environmental legislation.

Incident Reporting and Monitoring

We operate a clear, non-punitive incident reporting system for accidents, near-misses and environmental incidents. All incidents are investigated to identify root causes and to implement corrective actions. Performance is monitored using leading and lagging indicators, including near-miss reports, training completion rates and audit findings. Records are kept to demonstrate due diligence and to support continual improvement in safety and waste management practice.

Contractor Management and Waste Handling Standards

Contractors engaged by our rubbish company must comply with this Health and Safety policy and demonstrate equivalent standards through documentation and site induction. Sub-contractors are required to provide evidence of competency, insurances and risk assessments relevant to skip hire and waste removal tasks. Waste handling standards include safe segregation, correct labelling of hazardous items, and refusal to accept materials that pose an uncontrolled risk. Our approach ensures that skip hire services and rubbish clearance are undertaken in a way that protects workers, the public and the environment.

Commitment, Review and Continuous Improvement

We are committed to continual improvement in health and safety performance across our skip hire and rubbish removal operations. This policy will be reviewed periodically and updated in response to changes in legislation, business activities or following an incident. Staff engagement is encouraged through regular consultations and safety committees. Golders Green Skip Hire will provide sufficient resources to implement this policy and expects every team member to contribute to a safe and compliant workplace. Signed and approved by management, on behalf of the organisation, the policy remains a living document subject to regular review.