Health and Safety Policy — Commercial Waste Richmond upon Thames Services

This Health and Safety Policy sets out the commitments and operational standards for our commercial waste and rubbish collection services operating within the borough area. It applies to all staff, contractors and any person working on behalf of the company who are involved in commercial rubbish services in Richmond upon Thames and surrounding service areas. The policy aims to protect employees, visitors, customers and the public by managing risks associated with commercial waste transfer, collection, and disposal.

Our objectives are to: prevent injury and ill health, ensure safe systems of work, and reduce environmental impact through proper commercial waste management practices. We will achieve this by providing clear leadership, appropriate training, safe equipment, and monitoring performance. The scope covers office-based staff, on-road crews, vehicle maintenance teams and third-party contractors engaged in waste and refuse operations.

Responsibilities are allocated at all levels. Senior management has ultimate accountability for ensuring that adequate resources are available and that policy is reviewed regularly. Supervisors and managers are responsible for implementing procedures for rubbish collection Richmond upon Thames, carrying out risk assessments, and ensuring teams follow safe work instructions. Employees and contractors must follow the guidance, use provided personal protective equipment, and report hazards, incidents and near misses promptly.

Risk assessment and control measures are central to our approach to commercial waste management in the borough. We carry out documented risk assessments for routine activities and specific contracts, including: manual handling of sacks and bins, vehicle loading and unloading, working at height to access waste containers, handling sharps or hazardous materials, and operating lifting equipment. Controls include mechanical aids, safe stacking rules, segregation of waste streams, and clearly marked exclusion zones during collections.

Compliance and safe systems: the company maintains up-to-date permits and follows applicable environmental and health and safety regulations. We operate under a safe systems of work framework that incorporates permit-to-work where appropriate, lockout procedures for maintenance, and clear traffic management plans for collection sites. Routine vehicle checks and scheduled servicing are mandatory to minimise road risks and avoid breakdowns that could create safety hazards.

Training is provided to ensure competence in rubbish collection and commercial waste transfer tasks. Training includes induction, manual handling, hazardous waste awareness, spill response, first aid, and defensive driving for crew operating refuse vehicles. Refresher training and toolbox talks occur regularly to reinforce safe behaviours and update teams on procedural changes.

Personal Protective Equipment and Manual Handling

PPE is risk-based and provided at no cost to employees. Required equipment may include high-visibility clothing, safety footwear, gloves appropriate to waste types, eye protection and respiratory protection where dust or fumes are present. Manual handling tasks are assessed and minimised through mechanical aids, training on safe lifting techniques, and job rotation to reduce repetitive strain.

Incident Reporting, Investigation and Emergency Response

All incidents, accidents and near misses are reported immediately using company systems. Investigations identify root causes and corrective actions to prevent recurrence. Emergency procedures cover spill containment, fire response, medical emergencies and coordination with emergency services. The organisation maintains a register of hazardous materials and ensures suitable spill kits and containment measures are available on vehicles and at depots.

Contractors and subcontractors engaged to provide commercial refuse services Richmond upon Thames must meet our health and safety standards. Pre-engagement checks include competence verification, risk assessment review and confirmation of insurance and training records. Contract monitoring includes site inspections, performance audits, and corrective action follow-up to ensure consistent standards across all service partners.

Monitoring, audit and review processes ensure the policy remains effective and responsive to change. Key performance indicators include incident rates, completion of risk assessments, training uptake, vehicle inspection compliance and corrective action closure rates. Senior management reviews health and safety performance at least annually or sooner following significant incidents or legislative change.

Continuous improvement is embedded through regular audits, consultation with staff and safety representatives, and adoption of best practices for commercial waste disposal, recycling and sustainable refuse collection. Feedback from operational teams is used to refine procedures, reduce unnecessary manual handling and improve segregation of recyclable and hazardous streams.

Implementation of this policy contributes to the reliable delivery of our commercial waste services, protects our workforce and the public, and supports environmental stewardship. The company remains committed to providing adequate resources to achieve these aims and to maintaining open communication with employees and stakeholders about health and safety issues. This policy is endorsed by senior leadership and is available to staff and relevant partners as part of our operational documentation.