Health and Safety Policy — Skip Hire Millbank

This Health and Safety Policy sets out the commitment of Skip Hire Millbank to maintain safe working conditions across all skip hire and rubbish removal operations. The policy applies to staff, drivers, subcontractors and visitors involved in skip delivery, collection, waste transfer and associated activities in our service area. Our core objective is to prevent injury, minimise risk and protect the environment through consistent application of safe working practices and effective risk management.

Our policy scope covers every stage of waste handling, from customer site evaluation to vehicle loading and disposal at authorised facilities. Management will ensure that appropriate resources are provided to implement this policy and that roles and responsibilities are clearly defined. All employees have a duty to follow safety instructions and report unsafe conditions; supervisors have a duty to enforce safe systems of work and to ensure that training, supervision and equipment are suitable and maintained.

The organisation structure for health and safety is clearly defined. Senior operational managers are responsible for ensuring compliance with safety procedures while drivers and operatives are responsible for safe execution of tasks on site. Key responsibilities include:

• Carrying out and reviewing risk assessments for delivery, loading and unloading of skips.
• Ensuring all staff use appropriate personal protective equipment and safe manual handling techniques.
• Maintaining vehicle safety checks and loading limits at all times.

Risk Assessment, Controls and Safe Systems

Risk assessment is the cornerstone of our approach. We undertake systematic assessments of customers' locations and tasks before skip placement and collection, identifying hazards such as uneven ground, nearby traffic, overhead obstructions and confined access. Controls include setting exclusion zones, using banksmen where needed, deploying wheel chocks and ensuring secure vehicle parking. We adopt a hierarchy of control to eliminate or reduce risks where possible and document findings for continuous improvement.

Safe systems of work include clear operational procedures for loading, securing and transporting waste. Drivers must follow site-specific instructions and use mechanical aids or lifting equipment when provided. Vehicle condition checks are recorded at the start and end of each shift, and any defects are reported immediately. For waste types requiring special handling, operative briefings and documented handling protocols ensure hazardous items are segregated, labelled and transported in accordance with accepted waste handling standards.

Personal protective equipment is issued and maintained for all operatives; this includes hi-vis clothing, gloves, steel-toe boots and eye protection. Employees are trained in correct PPE selection and use, and are expected to wear equipment consistently when on duty. Where manual handling is unavoidable, safe lifting techniques and team lifts are used to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injury.

Training, Communication and Contractor Management

We invest in ongoing training to ensure staff are competent in their roles. Training covers vehicle safety, manual handling, hazardous materials awareness, spill response and the correct segregation of recyclable and non-recyclable waste. Toolbox talks and refresher sessions are conducted regularly to reinforce key messages. Communication channels exist for reporting hazards, near-misses and incidents, and learnings are shared promptly within the team.

All subcontractors and temporary workers are required to meet our safety standards before being permitted to undertake work. Pre-qualification checks include evidence of training, insurance and adherence to operational procedures. Contractors receive site-specific briefings and must work under the supervision of a competent person. The company retains the right to suspend activities if safety standards are not met, and to require corrective actions before work resumes.

Incident reporting and emergency procedures are central to our safety management. Any accident, near miss or spill is reported without delay, investigated to identify root causes and followed by corrective actions to prevent recurrence. First aid provisions and emergency contact arrangements are maintained at operational sites. Regular drills and reviews of emergency response ensure preparedness for situations such as vehicle incidents, fire or hazardous waste release.