Health & Safety Policy — Business Waste Removal Bermondsey

This document sets out the Health and Safety Policy for our commercial waste removal operations. It applies to all employees, contractors and partners engaged in business waste removal Bermondsey activities and associated rubbish company services. The policy outlines our commitment to preventing injury and ill health, protecting property and the environment, and ensuring that waste collection, transport and disposal are carried out safely and responsibly. Safety is integral to how we operate; we promote a culture where everyone takes responsibility for safe working practices.

The company leadership has overall responsibility for health and safety and will provide the necessary resources and direction. Supervisors and team leaders must ensure safe systems of work, compliance with permits and that crews are competent and fit for tasks. Employees and operatives are required to follow procedures, report hazards and use issued equipment. All roles are subject to documented duties and regular review. We will cooperate with regulatory bodies and align with statutory obligations while maintaining best practice across our rubbish removal service area.

Hazard identification and risk assessment are central to our approach. Before work starts each site or commercial collection is assessed for risks such as manual handling, vehicle movements, traffic, sharps, hazardous liquids, and combustible materials. Risk assessments will be recorded, communicated and kept under review. Where specific waste streams present higher risk — for example contaminated clinical waste, asbestos-containing materials or chemical containers — additional controls and specialist handling will be implemented. Our aim is to eliminate or reduce risks to as low as reasonably practicable across our waste removal operations.

Control Measures and Safe Systems of Work

We implement a hierarchy of controls to manage workplace hazards. This includes design of tasks to reduce manual handling, segregation of waste streams at source, mechanical aids, clear exclusion zones and traffic management plans. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is provided and must be worn where residual risks remain. Key measures include:

• Designated loading and unloading procedures and safe access;
• Vehicle safety checks, secure loads and daily defect reporting;
• Segregation and clear labelling of hazardous and non-hazardous waste;
• Lock-out/tag-out and permit-to-work systems for high-risk tasks.

These controls support safe operation of our rubbish collection fleets and on-site waste handling. Regular toolbox talks, pre-shift briefings and method statements are used to reinforce expectations. Where mechanical lifting and compactors are used, guards and emergency stops are maintained to prevent entrapment or crushing incidents.

Training, Competence and Supervision

We will ensure personnel involved in waste collection, sorting and disposal are trained, assessed and authorised for their roles. Training includes manual handling, hazardous waste awareness, spill response, safe vehicle operation and the use of PPE. Supervisors conduct competence checks and maintain training records. A programme of refresher training and competency reassessments underpins continuous improvement in our rubbish company workforce. Competence is monitored through observations, performance reviews and incident analysis to ensure standards are maintained.

Specific controls govern the handling of special wastes. Chemical, clinical and electronic wastes are managed under separate procedures that require secure containment, labelled packaging and documented chain-of-custody. Arrangements for storage prior to transport include bunding, ventilation and segregation from general refuse. Emergency spill kits, neutralising agents and instruction sheets are provided where hazardous liquids may be present. The policy emphasises preventing environmental release and protecting operatives from exposure through engineering and administrative measures.

Incident reporting, first aid provision and emergency response arrangements are established across our service area. All incidents, near-misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported promptly and investigated to identify root causes and corrective actions. We maintain suitable first aid equipment and trained responders on sites and vehicles. Emergency plans cover fire, major spills, traffic incidents and medical emergencies and are tested periodically through drills.

Contractor and supplier management forms part of our assurance framework. Companies providing ancillary services such as vehicle maintenance, specialist disposal or temporary storage must comply with our standards and demonstrate their own safety arrangements. Prequalification checks, site inductions and contract terms ensure alignment with the policy. Monitoring includes audits, inspections and review of performance metrics to confirm continual compliance across the rubbish removal service area.

Monitoring, review and continual improvement are embedded in the policy. We undertake regular site inspections, fleet audits and management reviews to measure effectiveness. KPIs such as incident frequency, near-miss reporting rates, training currency and audit findings are tracked. Where shortcomings are identified, corrective actions and lessons learned are implemented and communicated. Records of risk assessments, training, maintenance and incident investigations are retained to demonstrate effective governance and legal compliance.

This policy is endorsed by senior management and is subject to annual review or earlier if there are significant changes to operations, legislation or following a serious incident. The organisation will consult with employees and representatives on health and safety matters and ensure the policy remains relevant to the operational needs of commercial waste removal and rubbish removal services. By adhering to these principles we commit to protecting people, property and the environment while delivering reliable business waste removal services across our service area.