Toms Waste Health and Safety Policy

Introduction: This health and safety policy sets out the commitment of Toms Waste to protect the wellbeing of employees, contractors, visitors and the public. The aim of the Toms Waste safety statement is to provide a clear framework for safe working in all waste handling, collection and transport operations, and to promote a culture where safety is an integral part of day-to-day business activities. This document applies across our sites and operations while avoiding over-specific local legal references; it outlines responsibilities, safe systems, training and continuous improvement.

Scope and objectives: The Toms Waste health and safety policy covers manual handling of materials, vehicle operations, site safety, waste segregation, hazardous materials handling and emergency response. Our objectives include preventing workplace injuries and ill health, reducing incident rates, ensuring safe use of plant and equipment, and supporting workers to raise concerns. The policy supports practical controls rather than detailed jurisdictional legal text, focusing on measurable outcomes and safe standards.

Leadership and responsibilities: Senior management at Toms Waste accepts ultimate responsibility for health and safety performance and will ensure adequate resources are provided. Managers and supervisors must implement the policy, supervise activities and ensure employees receive training and information. Employees and those working on behalf of Toms Waste are expected to follow safe working procedures and to report hazards promptly. Every role has defined responsibilities so that accountability is clear and safety ownership is shared across the organization.

Risk management and safe systems

Risk assessment is central to Toms Waste safety practice. We will identify hazards associated with waste operations, assess risks and implement proportionate controls such as engineering barriers, administrative controls, safe operating procedures and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). The hierarchy of controls guides actions: elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative measures and PPE. Risk control plans are kept up to date and reviewed when processes or equipment change.

Safe working procedures and training: Toms Waste provides role-specific induction and refresher training to ensure competence in waste handling, vehicle operation and site safety. Training covers safe lifting, containment of sharps or hazardous waste, spill response, use of lifting equipment, and working near traffic. Workers receive instruction on the correct selection and use of PPE and safe manual handling techniques. Training records are maintained and competency assessments carried out where appropriate.

Operational controls: Our day-to-day controls include vehicle checks, clear segregation of waste streams, routine inspection of containment systems, secure storage for hazardous materials and lock-out / tag-out procedures for maintenance. Supervisors ensure that work plans address foreseeable hazards and that temporary works have documented controls. We promote safe driving standards, secure loads and restrict passenger carriage to designated vehicles only.

Incident reporting, investigation and continual improvement

All incidents, near misses and unsafe conditions are to be reported immediately. Toms Waste operates a no-blame reporting culture that encourages early notification so that root cause analysis can be performed and remedial actions taken. Investigations aim to identify systematic issues, improve procedures and prevent recurrence. Lessons learned are shared across the business and embedded into training and risk assessments.

Monitoring and audit: Toms Waste conducts regular workplace inspections, safety audits and performance reviews to check that controls are effective. Key performance indicators include incident rates, completion of risk assessments and training compliance. Audits are used to verify that safe systems are operating and to identify opportunities for improvement. Findings are tracked to closure and senior management reviews performance on a scheduled basis.

Employee involvement and wellbeing: Worker participation is essential. Toms Waste encourages employees to contribute to risk assessments, safety meetings and toolbox talks. We recognise the importance of mental health and wellbeing alongside physical safety; supervisors are trained to spot signs of fatigue and stress and to direct workers to appropriate support. Communication channels are maintained so safety information, updates and changes are widely distributed.

Contractors and supply chain: Contractors and temporary staff engaged by Toms Waste must comply with this health and safety policy and demonstrate their capability to work safely. Pre-engagement checks and site inductions ensure external teams understand site hazards and controls. We expect contractors to operate to the same high standards as our own staff and to cooperate in incident investigations where applicable.

Emergency preparedness: Emergency procedures for fires, major spills, medical incidents and evacuations are in place. Regular drills are scheduled to test response plans and to train personnel in their roles during an emergency. Emergency equipment is provided and maintained and key contacts are identified internally without referencing external contact details in this policy document.

Review and continuous improvement: This Toms Waste health and safety policy is a living document. It will be reviewed at planned intervals and updated to reflect changes in operations, technology or significant incidents. Continuous improvement is pursued through corrective actions, learning from incidents and benchmarking against recognized safe practice. The goal is to ensure that the policy remains relevant and effective in protecting people, property and the environment.

Commitment statement: Management and employees at Toms Waste commit to implementing this policy in practice. We will allocate necessary resources, maintain open communication on safety matters, and seek to eliminate risks where possible. Everyone has a part to play in sustaining a safe workplace; by working together we will reduce harm and promote a resilient safety culture across all Toms Waste operations.

Key controls summary:

• Identify and assess hazards regularly and after changes.
• Provide training and supervision to ensure competence.
• Implement engineering and administrative controls, and use PPE where needed.
• Report incidents and near misses promptly and investigate thoroughly.
• Engage staff in safety planning and review performance continuously.

Endorsement: This policy represents the ongoing commitment of Toms Waste to deliver safe, responsible waste services. It is supported by procedures, risk assessments and training designed to protect people and the environment while enabling efficient operation across our business activities.