Health & Safety Policy — Limehouse Skip Hire

Limehouse Skip Hire is committed to maintaining the highest standards of health and safety across all operations. As a professional rubbish company and skip hire provider, our objective is to prevent injury and ill health to employees, contractors, clients and the public through effective management, training and practical controls. This policy sets out our responsibilities, processes and expectations for safe waste removal, skip handling and on-site activities.

This policy applies to every aspect of our skip hire service and waste management activities, including delivery and collection of containers, on‑site loading, transportation, transfer operations and storage. All employees and subcontractors engaged by the company are required to comply with the arrangements set out below. Safety is a shared responsibility and must be considered in planning, daily operations and incident response. Everyone on site has a duty to work safely and to report hazards promptly.

We will meet all relevant legal and regulatory obligations and maintain risk assessments and method statements for routine and non-routine tasks. Regular audits and inspections will verify compliance and drive continual improvement. Where risks cannot be eliminated, we will apply robust control measures using the hierarchy of control: eliminate, substitute, isolate, engineer controls, administer and provide personal protective equipment (PPE).

Responsibilities and Roles

Senior management will provide leadership, adequate resources and a documented framework to deliver the policy. Managers and supervisors must ensure safe systems of work are implemented and that staff are competent for their roles. Employees are required to follow company procedures, attend training and use PPE correctly. Contractors must meet our minimum safety standards before commencing work on behalf of the skip hire company.

Training, Competence and Communication

We will ensure all operatives receive appropriate induction, task-specific training and refresher instruction relevant to waste removal and vehicle operations. Training records will be maintained and competency assessed. Clear lines of communication will be established on site, with toolbox talks, safety briefings and visible safety signage to reduce the risk of accidents during skip delivery, collection and rubbish removal activities.

Key duties include maintaining accurate records of incidents, near-misses and health surveillance where applicable. The company will investigate significant incidents, implement corrective actions and disseminate lessons learned to prevent recurrence. Reporting is mandatory — near-misses are treated as learning opportunities to strengthen controls.

Operational Controls and Safe Working Practices

Work activities with the highest risk — including manual handling, reversing vehicles, working at height on skip loaders and handling hazardous wastes — will be controlled by documented safe systems. Manual handling tasks will be assessed and mechanical aids provided where appropriate. Drivers and crew will follow strict vehicle safety checks, secure loads correctly and adopt safe reversing practices to protect the public and operatives.

The company operates a permit-style approach for non-routine tasks and high-risk operations. Our controls include, but are not limited to:

• Pre‑start vehicle and equipment checks for all skip lorries and handling equipment
• Segregation and labelling of hazardous wastes and contaminated loads to ensure compliant disposal
• Use of appropriate PPE such as gloves, hi‑vis clothing, safety boots and eye protection
• Traffic management and exclusion zones on client sites during collections and deliveries
• Supervised access and clear communication when operatives are working near public areas

Contractor management will ensure that any subcontracted rubbish removal teams meet our standards: they will provide evidence of competence, insurance and their own risk assessments. We will monitor contractor performance through inspections and regular reviews.

Health considerations, including exposure to dust, fumes or biological hazards, will be controlled through substitution, engineering controls and hygiene procedures. Where appropriate, occupational health monitoring will be offered to staff engaged in high-exposure activities.

Emergency arrangements include clear procedures for spills, vehicle collisions, first aid and fire response. All sites will have nominated first aiders, access to spill kits and an emergency communication plan. Drills and reviews of emergency procedures will be conducted periodically.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

We will monitor performance through inspections, incident analysis and safety metrics. This policy will be reviewed at least annually or following significant operational change or accident. Continuous improvement is achieved by integrating audit findings, worker input and best practice from the waste management and skip hire sector.

By following these principles, Limehouse Skip Hire aims to provide a safe, responsible and professional rubbish company service area that protects people, assets and the environment. Compliance with this policy is mandatory for all personnel and contractors working on our behalf.