Skip hire safety: Tips for avoiding danger when hiring a skip

Skips are one of the safest ways to manage waste.

The strong metal containers keep any pointy or sharp waste items from causing damage, whereas bags can easily split or spill out and pose a hazard.

But there are a few additional precautions you should take to make sure everyone is kept out of harm’s way during your skip hire.

Don’t overfill your skip

Every SunSkips container comes with a clear maximum fill line on the side so there can be no mistake as to where it can be loaded up to.

The reason for this is to make sure that nothing piled on top can topple out of the container and harm someone – either onsite or during transit.

This is especially important for big, bulky items that can do real damage if they fall, so it’s best to load large, heavy items into your skip first to make sure they’re secure.

Lift with your legs

Speaking of throwing heavy items into your skip, it’s not as easy as you might think to toss bulky items over the side of an eight-yard container.

Some skips come with drop-down doors, making it much easier to load the container with a wheelbarrow, so be sure to request one when you book if you think this might save your back.

SunSkips drivers are unable to assist customers with loading skips, so be sure to get some help if you think you’ll struggle to handle it yourself.

Take care with hazardous waste

SunSkips accepts a wide range of waste types, from domestic waste like furniture and carpet to construction waste such as rubble and scrap metal.

But there are some things that can’t be put into a skip due to the hazardous nature of the material and the danger it poses both while sitting in the skip and once it reaches our recycling facility.

Be sure to consult the list of forbidden waste items when booking online and let us know if you’ll need to dispose of any special items such as batteries or freezers.

MORE: Hazardous waste: the law, process and dangers

Hire a skip with a lockable lid

Waste that might catch fire, such as paper and wood, poses a threat if not kept under lock and key.

To keep the contents of your skip from catching alight when a careless smoker tosses a lit cigarette into it, for example, you might consider a sealed container like the ones pictured above.

If a lockable skip isn’t an option, cover your skip with tarpaulin to deter people from throwing things into it.

Keep emergency exits clear

Placing your skip exactly where you want it is something SunSkips drivers take pride in, but we also need to consider access for road users and pedestrians.

Skips cannot block fire exits, access for emergency vehicles, fire hydrants or anything else that might restrict free movement.

As well as making sure there’s plenty of space around the skip to get past, the ground the skip is to be placed on must also be sturdy and level so there’s no chance of it tipping over.

SunSkips takes health and safety very seriously. If you have any doubts regarding best practices for skip hire, don’t hesitate to reach out to our friendly team for advice.