Health and Safety Policy — Commercial Waste Ascot

Policy statement: Commercial Waste Ascot is committed to maintaining the highest standards of health and safety for employees, contractors and any third parties affected by our commercial rubbish operations. This document outlines our approach to managing risks across our rubbish company service area and related waste removal service area activities. Our objective is to prevent accidents, control hazards, and ensure that everyone engaged in waste collection, transfer and disposal works in a safe environment.

Scope and purpose

This policy covers all day-to-day operations within our commercial rubbish service area and waste collection zones, including vehicle movements, manual handling, containment and segregation of commercial refuse, recycling and hazardous waste streams. It applies to all staff, subcontractors and visitors. It is the responsibility of management to ensure the policy is implemented and reviewed, and the responsibility of every team member to follow the controls detailed here.

Responsibilities

Management will provide the leadership, training and resources necessary to deliver safe working systems across the rubbish removal service area. Supervisors will ensure risk assessments are carried out and that controls are in place and effective. Employees must use the correct PPE, follow safe procedures, report hazards and take reasonable care for their own safety and that of others.

Risk assessment and control: All operations in the commercial waste collection area will be subject to documented risk assessments that identify hazards such as sharps, manual handling risks, vehicle movements, slips, trips and falls, and exposure to hazardous substances. Identified risks will be mitigated by a combination of engineering controls, administrative controls and personal protective equipment. Examples of controls include:

• regular vehicle and equipment inspections;
• standard operating procedures for bin lifting and containment;
• clear segregation and labelling of waste streams to reduce cross-contamination;
• designated loading/unloading zones to manage traffic flow in the service area.

Training and competence: Employees and contractors working in the rubbish collection area will receive role-appropriate training. This includes induction training, manual handling instruction, safe vehicle operation, and specific training for handling hazardous or controlled wastes. Training records will be maintained, and refresher training provided where procedural change or incident investigation indicates a need. Competence will be verified before allowing personnel to work unsupervised.

Operational controls: Vehicles and plant used throughout the waste removal service area must be maintained in accordance with scheduled servicing and daily checks. Drivers and operators must follow route safety procedures, use seat belts, and abide by load securing requirements. Manual handling tasks must be minimised through mechanical aids and team lifting where appropriate. Safe systems of work are mandatory and will be documented for all higher-risk activities.

Personal protective equipment: Appropriate PPE such as high-visibility clothing, gloves, protective footwear and eye protection will be issued and its use enforced in the commercial rubbish service area where risks cannot be fully eliminated. PPE selection will match the hazard, and staff will be trained in correct use, care and replacement procedures.

Emergency preparedness and incident reporting: Emergency procedures are in place to respond to spills, fires, medical emergencies and vehicle accidents occurring within the rubbish company service area. All staff must know the alarm and evacuation procedures and the location of emergency equipment. Incidents, near misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported immediately and will be investigated to identify root causes and corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

Monitoring, audit and review: We will measure performance through regular safety inspections, internal audits and key performance indicators focused on accident rates, near-miss reports and completion of corrective actions. Management review will assess policy effectiveness annually or after major incidents, ensuring continuous improvement across the waste collection and disposal activities.

Legal and compliance obligations: The organisation will comply with applicable health and safety regulations and waste management requirements relevant to a commercial rubbish provider. We will maintain accurate records of licences, vehicle checks and staff training to demonstrate adherence to statutory duties without over-relying on local references.

Policy endorsement and communication: This policy is endorsed by senior management and will be communicated to all employees and contractors. Copies will be available in operational areas and discussed during toolbox talks. Everyone is expected to contribute to creating a safer workplace by reporting hazards, participating in reviews and following established procedures. Together, we will maintain a robust health and safety culture across our rubbish removal operations and service areas.