How to stay safe when hiring a skip
Stay Safe when Hiring a Skip – Skips are heavy metal containers that can hold all kinds of items. Things can easily go wrong if you aren’t careful, so safety is of the utmost importance when you hire a skip.
Whatever your project may be, and whichever types of waste you might be disposing of, you must hire the right size and follow the appropriate usage instructions at all times.
If you aren’t sure about the safety rules for skip hire in Preston, this blog will tell you all about the dos and don’ts of skip hire so you can stay safe.
Find the best place to put a skip
Before you hire a skip in Preston or any other area, you need to make sure that you have a suitable place to deliver it. Large skip delivery trucks need to be able to access the space you want them to place the skip into, with no obstacles. This means that the road needs to be wide enough for the truck to pass through and turn around, with no low-hanging tree branches or power lines.
The ground itself must be solid, flat, and stable in order for the skip to sit on it safely. You can ask for wooden battens to protect the ground under the skip if you have any concerns about damaging the surface. Should you need to put the skip outside on the road, then you must get a permit from the council first. Wherever you place it, the skip mustn’t block footpaths, entrances, or utilities.
Stick to safety regulations
As mentioned above, you need a skip permit if you plan to place a skip on a public highway. When people will be walking and driving past the skip, you must take precautions to prevent accidents and injuries from happening. This includes safety measures such as:
- Hiring a skip with reflective markings
- Not placing it within 15m of a junction
- Placing cones around the skip
- Setting up a lamp to turn on at night
- Displaying the company contact details
It’s also advisable to cover the skip with a tarpaulin when you’re not using it. This should stop strangers or even neighbours from slipping unauthorised items into your skip, which could injure you or the workers who collect and empty it.
Don’t overload your skip
Whichever skip size you choose, it should come with a ‘fill line’ on the inside. This provides a guide to show you where it’s safe to fill the skip up to. If you go over the line, or above the edge of the skip, this becomes unsafe due to the possibility of items falling out. Again, you don’t want to be responsible for injuring someone or damaging property.
Some people try to cheat with ‘greedy boards’ instead of paying for a bigger skip – lining the inside of the skip with wooden boards to raise the sides and create more room. However, this is completely unsafe, and skip providers legally cannot collect a skip that’s been overfilled this way. It’s not worth the risks, as you’ll be charged extra even if they do take away the additional waste.
Fill the skip carefully
Safely filling a skip requires more thought than just tossing items in. You should never throw things into the skip, especially not from a distance. Don’t try to chuck heavy or bulky items into the skip by yourself, either. Get another person to help if you can’t carry something on your own, and lift by bending your knees and keeping your back straight.
It’s a good idea to get the skip as close as possible to your project site, so you don’t have to carry things too far. You should also wear tough gloves while working, which can stop your hands from slipping and protect them against rough edges. Try to load heavier items first, stacking the waste evenly in layers to prevent things from shifting around too much inside the skip.
Keep hazardous items out
From asbestos to electrical appliances, there’s a whole list of things that you can’t dispose of in a skip. This is for your own safety, and the safety of the workers who have to sort the contents of your skip later. They’ll find anything that you might hide amongst the general waste, so don’t be tempted to sneak prohibited items into your skip anyway.
Hazard materials can cause fires or explosions and create toxic fumes, so you should also avoid putting the following products in your skip:
- Pesticides
- Oils
- Paints
- Solvents
- Cleaning chemicals
- Gas cylinders
- Fluorescent tubes
- Light bulbs
- Batteries
- Tyres
It should go without saying, but just in case: do not light fires inside or nearby skips. This includes smoking next to a skip! If you want to learn more about the types of waste that aren’t safe to put in skips, your skip provider should be able to tell you everything you need to know.
Need more advice on skip safety?
Whether you’re searching for skip hire in Chorley or skip hire in Leyland, Preston Skips provides a full skip delivery and collection service throughout this region in North West England. Our expert advisers can assist you with skip safety information if you contact our team for help.
For further guidance on skip sizes, deliveries and collections, and public health regulations, feel free to give us a call on 01772 827 603 or send us an e-mail at info@skipspreston.com. We’re here to make sure that all of our customers stay safe when hiring our skips.