Health and Safety Policy — Business Waste Removal Gunnersbury
Business Waste Removal Gunnersbury is committed to protecting the health and safety of its employees, contractors, clients and the public while delivering secure and efficient commercial waste removal and rubbish collection services. This policy sets out the responsibilities, processes and standards that govern safe working across the rubbish company service area and related waste management operations. The aim is to eliminate or reduce risk through clear control measures, consistent training and active supervision.
Our core objectives are to: prevent injury and ill health, ensure compliance with recognised safety standards, and promote a proactive safety culture across the waste removal in Gunnersbury and the wider service region. Senior management will provide leadership, allocate resources and ensure the policy is implemented. All staff are expected to take reasonable care of their own safety and that of others, report hazards, and follow safe working procedures for commercial waste removal, transfer, and vehicle operations.
Roles and responsibilities are defined to maintain accountability: senior managers are responsible for policy oversight and resource allocation; supervisors oversee daily safety performance and task-specific risk controls; drivers and operatives are responsible for safe operation of vehicles and handling of materials. Contractors working with our rubbish removal service must comply with this policy and demonstrate equivalent safety standards. The company will maintain records of qualifications, licences and competency checks for personnel involved in waste transport and handling.
Risk Assessment, Hazard Control and Safe Systems
All operational activities will be subject to documented risk assessments and method statements. Hazard identification covers manual handling, vehicle movements, slips/trips/falls, sharps and contaminated waste, hazardous substances and ergonomics. Controls include engineering controls, safe systems of work, use of appropriate mechanical aids, and strict segregation of hazardous and non-hazardous waste streams. The company will maintain a permit-to-work approach where necessary for high-risk tasks and ensure all lifting equipment and containment systems are inspected and maintained.
Training, competent supervision and clear communication are fundamental. Employees will receive induction training, task-specific instruction, driver CPC where applicable, and refreshers for manual handling, PPE use and emergency response. Emergency procedures for spills, fire, road traffic incidents and medical emergencies are documented and rehearsed. Incident reporting and investigation will follow a no-blame policy aimed at learning and preventing recurrence; remedial actions will be tracked to closure.
Key control measures include the provision of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), safe vehicle loading protocols, route risk assessments for collections, and robust traffic management at client sites. A written process for the safe segregation, labelling and storage of wastes ensures compliance with environmental and safety obligations. The company will not accept materials beyond permitted categories from clients and will advise on safe disposal for unusual or hazardous items.
Monitoring, Contractor Management and Performance
The organisation will monitor health and safety performance through regular inspections, audits, toolbox talks and review of incidents and near misses. Performance indicators include accident frequency, near-miss reporting rates, training uptake and compliance with inspection schedules. Contractors and suppliers within the rubbish company service area must provide evidence of their health and safety arrangements and accept site-specific induction where required. Subcontracted commercial waste collection will be supervised to the same standards as in-house operations.
Continuous improvement is supported by systematic review of risk assessments, adoption of safer technologies and investment in equipment to reduce manual handling and exposure to hazardous materials. Health surveillance will be provided where appropriate for roles with specific risks, and support mechanisms for mental wellbeing and fatigue management are included in operational planning. Lone working arrangements are risk-assessed and controls such as check-in procedures and mobile communication are applied to protect remote operatives.
In practical terms, safe operation requires adherence to a few essential practices:
- Follow documented safe systems of work and method statements.
- Wear and maintain PPE as specified for the task.
- Report hazards, incidents and near misses immediately.
- Ensure vehicles and lifting aids are pre-use checked and defects reported.
- Segregate and label waste correctly and avoid acceptance of prohibited items.
Commitment: Senior leadership endorses this Health and Safety Policy and will ensure it is reviewed at least annually or after any significant change to operations, incidents or legislation. All employees and contractors are expected to cooperate fully and contribute to a safe working environment. This policy applies across our business waste removal operations and supports consistent, responsible practice throughout the rubbish company service area and related waste management activities.
