Health & Safety Policy — Commercial Waste Tufnell Park

This Health and Safety Policy sets out the approach, responsibilities and minimum standards for the safe collection, handling and disposal of commercial waste in and around Tufnell Park. It applies to all staff, contractors and persons directly employed or engaged to deliver commercial waste services, including rubbish collection, commercial refuse removal and related waste management activities. The policy supports compliance with statutory duties and industry good practice while reflecting the operational needs of a professional rubbish company service area.

Our aim is to eliminate or reduce risks to the health, safety and welfare of employees, visitors and the public through systematic risk control, training and supervision. The policy covers routine operations, vehicle movements, manual handling of bins and sacks, segregation of recyclable and non-recyclable materials, and the competent management of hazardous or special wastes.

This document is a control framework rather than a procedural manual. It establishes obligations for management and workers, including safe systems of work, incident reporting, and continual improvement of commercial waste operations. It should be read alongside site-specific risk assessments, method statements and permit-to-work instructions where these exist.

Scope, Responsibilities and Organisation

Senior management holds overall responsibility for ensuring safe delivery of commercial waste services. Managers are responsible for implementing this policy, allocating resources and ensuring staff competency for rubbish removal, waste collection and transfer duties. Supervisors must monitor day-to-day compliance and report issues promptly.

Employees and operatives are required to follow instructions, use provided personal protective equipment (PPE), report hazards and participate in training. Contracted drivers, loaders and subcontractors engaged by the company must comply with the same safety standards and provide evidence of their competence and insurance cover.

Key organisational controls include documented risk assessments, safe systems of work for manual handling and vehicle operations, maintenance records for lifting equipment, and clear procedures for dealing with hazardous or unknown wastes encountered during collections.

Risk Assessment and Control Measures

Risk assessments must be conducted for all routine and non-routine tasks in the commercial rubbish service area. Assessments will identify hazards such as sharps, chemical containers, asbestos, fly-tipped loads, manual handling strain, traffic interactions and adverse weather conditions.

The policy mandates the implementation of hierarchy-of-controls: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls and PPE. Practical measures include the use of mechanical lifting aids, secure loading practices, vehicle sideguards where applicable, clear segregation of waste streams and regular cleaning of cabs and equipment.

Where hazardous waste or unauthorised materials are discovered, operatives must isolate the item, refrain from further handling and notify a supervisor. Disposal or specialist handling of hazardous items must follow licensed waste procedures and statutory requirements for controlled wastes.

Training, Competence and Communication

All personnel involved in commercial waste operations shall receive induction training and role-specific refresher training. Training topics include safe manual handling for rubbish sacks and bins, use of PPE, vehicle loading and restraint, spill response, emergency procedures and the identification of hazardous materials.

Records of training, licences and medical fitness where required will be maintained. Competence assessments will be used for critical tasks such as vehicle operations, forklift or tail-lift use and confined space checks at enclosed skip sites. Communication channels will be maintained so that safety information, changes to operations and incident learnings are cascaded to relevant teams.

Supervisors will hold briefings at the start of shifts to discuss hazards, route changes and exceptional risks. Formal safety meetings and toolbox talks are used to review incidents, measure performance and implement improvement actions across the waste management service area.

Health surveillance and welfare arrangements shall be provided where risks to health are identified, including exposure to dust, biohazards or chemical agents. The company will ensure suitable first aid provision and access to medical advice following incidents or suspected exposures. Illnesses and injuries will be recorded and investigated to prevent recurrence.

Monitoring, auditing and continuous improvement are core to ensuring the policy remains effective. Routine inspections, vehicle checks, audit of operational records and periodic review of risk assessments will identify non-conformities and drive corrective actions. Performance indicators related to accident frequency, near misses and compliance checks will be reported to senior management.

Authority and review: This policy is approved by senior management and will be reviewed at least annually or following a significant change in operations, legislation or after a serious incident. All staff are expected to contribute to the effectiveness of the policy by reporting hazards, suggesting improvements and participating in training.

Specific measures for vehicle and roadside safety include the use of high-visibility clothing, traffic management plans during collections, safe parking protocols and reversing aids on vehicles where appropriate. Manual handling controls emphasise team lifts, use of handling equipment and correct lifting techniques to reduce musculoskeletal injuries during rubbish handling activities.

Waste segregation and documentation are mandatory: correct classification, labelling and record-keeping reduce risk and ensure compliance with environmental and waste duty-of-care obligations. Where specialist disposal is required, licensed carriers and authorised facilities will be used to manage controlled wastes.

Commitment: The company is committed to maintaining safe working conditions for its commercial waste crews, ensuring the safety of customers and the public, and delivering compliant, responsible rubbish and waste management services. This policy underpins safe practice and provides the framework for accountable and effective safety management across the service area.