Policy statement 11: site rules enforcement
Health and safety
The council and our site management contractors operate the HWRCs in accordance with:
- health and safety law
- contractors’ health and safety policy
- operational rules
Visitors to any HWRC must comply with all health and safety requirements. You must follow the directions of site staff in their application of site rules. If you fail to comply, we may refuse entry or direct you to leave the site immediately.
One of the main risks to the health and safety of visitors on sites arises from traffic movements. You must:
- pay due care and attention
- comply with speed limits
- take care when manoeuvring a vehicle.
Whilst using the site, you should remain on any marked paths or walkways. You must not under any circumstances cross parking bays or pass the rear of any containers that back into the open HGV movement area.
Visitors must follow all instructions from staff and displayed on information signs.
Anyone under the age of 16 years and all animals must remain in vehicles at all times whilst on site.
The public is not permitted to smoke in any area of a HWRC site. This includes whilst in or outside their vehicles.
Cars are parked at your own risk.
You should wear suitable footwear at all times. Gloves are strongly recommended for handling waste to prevent cuts and injuries.
Should you require assistance, you should alert a member of staff. They will assist at their discretion as it depends upon the service needs.
Waste should be segregated and deposited in the correct container for re-use, recycling or disposal.
Verbal or physical abuse of staff is not acceptable and will not be tolerated. Visitors may be asked to moderate their behaviour or leave the site at the site manager’s discretion.
CCTV is installed, and site contractors and LCC staff at all HWRCs may use bodycams. This is to help ensure the health and safety of all site users.
We may take further action in relation to any breach of either the site rules or this policy. This includes:
- reporting incidents to the police or local authority regulatory officers
- revoking the e-permit for any relevant vehicle
- banning abusers and the relevant vehicles from all of the HWRCs
We fully support our contractors in their management of the site. This includes the waste being deposited and interactions with site visitors where site operators’ actions have been reasonable and in accordance with our policy.
Site operations
When a container is being manoeuvred, emptied or compacted we may ask customers not to:
- enter the site
- use a container
Site staff shall monitor and engage with incoming visitors. Where appropriate, they will be proactive in advising waiting visitors of possible delays. Patience is requested when health and safety requirements on site may cause delays.
Exceptional circumstances
A site shall only be closed in exceptional circumstances, such as:
- severe weather
- serious health and safety risks
- formal investigations
- emergencies
- any other service disruption will be with the approval of the head of waste or a nominated deputy officer
Any closure shall be for as short a time as possible. We will notify the public as soon as possible:
- at the site
- on our website
- on social media channels
All visitors shall comply with any conditions included within any such notifications.