Health and Safety Policy — Commercial Waste Highbury

Commercial Waste Highbury is committed to maintaining the highest standards of health and safety across all rubbish collection and waste removal activities. This policy sets out our approach to preventing work-related injury and ill health for employees, contractors and members of the public affected by our operations. It defines responsibilities, control measures and monitoring arrangements that underpin safe delivery of our commercial waste services.

Scope and intent: This policy applies to all activities associated with our commercial rubbish and waste management services, including collection, transport, segregation, temporary storage and transfer. The aim is to eliminate hazards where reasonably practicable and, where elimination is not possible, to reduce risks to as low as reasonably practicable through engineered controls, safe systems of work and effective supervision.

Responsibilities

Management retains ultimate responsibility for health and safety policy implementation. Managers will ensure that risk assessments are current and that appropriate resources are allocated. Supervisors are responsible for day-to-day enforcement of safe working procedures for all commercial waste operations. Employees and operatives must follow instructions, use provided personal protective equipment and report hazards or incidents promptly.

Risk assessment and control measures: Regular risk assessments will be conducted for vehicle operations, manual handling, use of mechanical lifting aids, interactions with sharps or hazardous materials and work at roadside. Controls include segregated loading zones, safe loading protocols, lock-out procedures for equipment, and clear segregation of recyclable, general and hazardous streams to reduce contamination risks and exposure.

Training, competence and supervision

We will provide tailored training and refresher programmes to ensure all staff are competent in safe collection and handling of commercial waste. Training covers vehicle safety checks, safe lifting techniques, use of PPE, manual handling, spill response and infection control for waste handlers. Supervisory checks and on-the-job assessments will monitor competence and identify training needs; new starters receive induction specific to rubbish collection activities.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) and vehicle safety: Appropriate PPE will be issued and maintained, including high-visibility clothing, gloves, safety footwear and eye protection where indicated. Vehicles and plant used in our rubbish removal operations are subject to routine inspections and maintenance schedules. Defects are reported and rectified through a formal system to ensure continuity of safe service delivery.

Hazardous and special waste handling: Where hazardous, chemical or sensitive waste streams are encountered, we will follow statutory handling and storage requirements and co-operate with duty-holder responsibilities. Clear labelling, secure containment and segregation procedures are mandatory. Employees will be trained on identifying hazardous materials and on when to escalate to specialist waste contractors.

Emergency response and incident reporting: In the event of accidents, spills or near misses during commercial refuse collection, prompt action must be taken to secure the scene and minimise further risk. All incidents are to be reported via the company reporting system, investigated and documented. Lessons learned will inform updates to safe systems of work and targeted training.

Monitoring, review and continuous improvement: We will monitor performance through regular safety audits, vehicle checks, toolbox talks and analysis of incident data. This policy is reviewed annually or following significant operational change. Senior management will ensure that findings from audits and incident investigations are acted upon to drive continuous improvement across our waste management and rubbish collection services.

Contractors and third parties: Where work is subcontracted, contractors must demonstrate equivalent safety standards and documented risk control measures before commencement. Coordination arrangements ensure that all parties understand their health and safety duties during joint activities, including site access, segregation of duties and emergency procedures.

Worker wellbeing and occupational health: We recognise that the health of our workforce is integral to safe operations. Measures to support wellbeing include provision of health surveillance where required, access to occupational health advice, fatigue management for vehicle operators and policies to address workplace violence and lone working. These measures reduce the likelihood of errors that could compromise safety during commercial refuse operations.

Policy acceptance and implementation: This health and safety policy is endorsed by senior leadership and is mandatory for all personnel engaged in our commercial waste operations. It will be communicated to employees and placed on internal platforms. Compliance is a condition of employment and non-adherence will result in corrective action. By embedding these principles into daily practice, we commit to delivering reliable, safe and professional commercial rubbish and waste services while protecting people and the environment.