Health and Safety Policy — Skip Hire Victoria

This Health and Safety Policy describes the approach and commitments of Skip Hire Victoria and associated skip hire services to protect the health, safety and welfare of employees, contractors, customers and the public. The policy applies to all aspects of our rubbish removal and waste collection operations, including skip bin hire, on-site delivery and uplift, transfer of waste, and depot-based activities. Our objective is to maintain safe systems of work, reduce risk, and promote a positive safety culture across all rubbish company activities.

We commit to continuous improvement in workplace safety, compliance with applicable obligations and the provision of resources to ensure effective risk management. The responsibilities in this policy are shared: management will set standards and provide leadership, supervisors will ensure safe work practices are implemented, and employees and contractors must follow procedures and report hazards. This document sets out the core elements that govern safe operations for skip bin hire and waste removal services.

Scope covers vehicle operations, manual handling of bins and bulky waste, operation of lifting equipment, hazardous materials handling, depot activities, site loading/unloading, and interactions with the public at customer sites. Skip Hire Victoria adopts a risk-based approach: identifying hazards, assessing risks, implementing controls and monitoring effectiveness. Safety is embedded into planning, job briefings and daily site checks for all rubbish removal and skip hire services.

Key safety responsibilities are allocated as follows: senior management provides leadership and resources; supervisors ensure safe systems of work; drivers and operatives follow safe operating procedures and use personal protective equipment (PPE); contractors must meet our safety standards before commencing work. Everyone is encouraged to proactively report hazards and near misses so corrective actions can be implemented promptly.

We maintain documented procedures and safe work method statements for critical activities such as skip placement, mechanical lifting, compacting operations, waste segregation and handling of unknown or potentially hazardous loads. Training and competency assessment are provided for drivers, machine operators and depot staff to ensure safe performance in rubbish collection and skip hire operations.

Controls and preventive measures include: a formal induction program for new staff and contractors; routine vehicle and equipment maintenance; use of appropriate PPE such as high-visibility clothing, gloves, eye protection and steel-capped footwear; and vehicle loading limits to prevent tipping or overloading. Emergency procedures, first aid arrangements and spill control kits are available at depots and on-site when required.

Accident and incident management follows a clear reporting and investigation process. All incidents, injuries, near misses and property damage are to be reported immediately to supervisors, recorded and investigated to determine root causes and corrective actions. Corrective actions are tracked to completion and shared with staff to prevent recurrence.

We implement routine safety inspections, toolbox talks and periodic audits of our operations to monitor compliance and identify improvement opportunities. Performance is measured through leading and lagging indicators, including training completion, number of reported hazards, incident frequency and timely closure of corrective actions. These metrics inform management reviews.

Safe work practices extend to the public and customer sites. Operatives must ensure skip placement minimises obstruction, traffic disruption and environmental impacts. Before delivery and uplift, operatives conduct a site risk assessment to identify hazards such as underground services, overhead powerlines, vehicle access issues and unstable ground. Where practical controls cannot eliminate risk, the job is modified or specialist assistance engaged.

Control measures for hazardous materials are conservative: suspect hazardous waste is treated as non-accepted until properly identified, segregated, and handled according to appropriate procedures. Staff are trained to recognise common hazardous items (asbestos, chemicals, batteries, compressed gas cylinders) and instructed to refuse or isolate such loads and notify supervisors for specialist handling. Environmental protection is an integral part of safety, and spill prevention and waste containment are enforced.

Contractor management requires contractors to demonstrate competency, insurance and safety systems consistent with our standards before work commences. We coordinate site access, inductions and supervision for third parties involved in skip hire, waste transfer or vehicle maintenance to ensure a unified approach to safety for all rubbish removal activities.

Implementation relies on communication, training and leadership. Supervisors conduct daily pre-start checks and toolbox talks, and employees are encouraged to participate in safety discussions. Disciplinary steps may be taken when unsafe acts or willful breaches of policy occur, balanced with support, retraining and corrective action to prevent recurrence.

Policy review and continual improvement are undertaken periodically or after a significant incident, change in operations, or new legal or industry guidance. Management will review safety performance, consult with staff representatives and update procedures to reflect evolving best practice in skip hire and rubbish collection operations. Training records, inspection reports and incident analyses support these reviews.

Key Safety Commitments

• Prevent harm by eliminating hazards where possible and using controls where elimination is not feasible.
• Provide appropriate training, resources and supervision for safe skip bin hire and waste handling operations.
• Maintain safe vehicles and plant through scheduled maintenance and pre-start checks.
• Encourage reporting of hazards and near misses and investigate incidents thoroughly.
• Manage contractors and suppliers to the same safety standards.

Acceptance and Responsibilities

All staff, contractors and partners engaged with our skip hire and rubbish removal services must accept and support this policy. Managers are responsible for ensuring effective implementation and review. Employees must follow procedures, use provided PPE and report hazards. This policy is endorsed at the highest level of the organisation and forms the foundation for all operational decision-making related to safety and waste management.

Signed (authorised representative) — Policy effective from implementation date and subject to regular review to ensure ongoing relevance and effectiveness across all skip hire and rubbish service activities.