1.1 Establish and maintain high standards for the conduct of the work undertaken and services and products supplied by member companies.
1.2 Lay out clearly for clients not normally covered by forms of contract, the terms under which registered skip hire contractors of the NSHA shall operate.

2. Each NSHA member shall be given a registered membership number and web page.  These will be included in the NSHA’s published list of members on www.nsha-uk.co.uk which shall be updated on a daily basis.

Quotations and contracts.

3. NSHA members shall supply sufficient information at the commencement of a contract to satisfy client’s needs.

3.1 Each contract for the general public must reflect their limited knowledge. All wording should be self-explanatory and avoid over-technical bias.

3.2 Once the parties agree to the contract either verbally or in writing, a contract shall exist between them. The client should confirm this by signing a delivery note.

3.3 All contracts should carry a clause that the client is to provide adequate safety precautions to comply with current Health & Safety Regulations. General public clients should be made aware of this need.
Insurance

4. All trade members of the NSHA shall arrange, and at all times maintain adequate insurance  cover in respect of employer’s and public liability.

4.1 An Associate member shall likewise arrange, and at all times maintain adequate insurance cover in respect of public and products liability.

4.2 All trade members must hold valid vehicle insurance.

Health & Safety

5. All members must comply with the regulations laid down by the Health & Safety Executive with particular attention given to:

5.1 Personal Safety.
5.2 Materials Handling.
5.3 Disposal of waste materials.
5.4 Safety Clothing and Headwear.

Advertising.

6.  Trade and Associate members shall ensure that advertising and promotion of their services are accurate and do not transgress the British Code of Advertising Practice and the British Code of Sales Practice.
6.1 All members should advertise the NSHA logo on any advertising they undertake.

Complaints, Conciliation and arbitration.

7.   Trade member shall have a clear policy for dealing with complaints which shall include a nominated senior member of staff, or in the case of a small firm, the principle, who shall have primary responsibility for their resolution. The policy shall be displayed on the premises of the head, or branch offices to be observable by clients.

7.1 A client with a complaint shall normally first approach the Trade member responsible for their contract.  The Trade  member shall respond quickly, normally within five days and where required, rectify any fault promptly having first agreed the action to be taken with the client.

7.2 A client who thereafter continues to have a genuine complaint should approach the NSHA verbally to seek assistance, and should confirm their complaint in writing. The NSHA will seek, by conciliation with the trade member, to resolve the client’s complaint. To seek assistance a client should view www.nsha-uk.co.uk for contact details or telephone 01206 307107.

7.3 Should conciliation fail, the NSHA will offer both parties the NSHA arbitration service.

7.4 Arbitration must be agreed to by both parties in writing. Thereafter a qualified assessor shall be appointed to inspect the complaint. His or her findings, of both a technical and professional nature shall be accepted by both parties.

7.5 Both parties must agree in writing that the cost of employing an assessor will be paid for by the party found to be at fault.

7.6 Where either party to a dispute invokes litigation, or goes to arbitration or adjudication outside the auspices of the NSHA, the NSHA shall take no further part in its resolution other than to disciplinary measures against the member if required, in accordance with the Code of Practice once the dispute is resolved. Any correspondence or reports issued by the NSHA in connection with a dispute, which subsequently goes to litigation, arbitration or adjudication, outside the NSHA, cannot be used by any of the parties to that dispute.

Compliance and Redress

8. Failure by a trade member to carry out or cooperate reasonably in the procedures outlined at 7-7.6 above or to carry out the findings of an assessor/arbitrator shall result in a review by the NSHA membership committee.

8.1 If the NSHA committee shall confirm the findings of an appointed assessor/arbitrator requiring a trade member to accept responsibility for any damage caused by himself or an employee, it shall give the trade member one written warning by registered post. Failure to comply with findings of the assessor/arbitrator within 21 days and to complete within a reasonable time scale shall result in the suspension and possible removal of that trade member from the NSHA membership. Removal of a member will be published as soon as it happens on www.nsha-uk.co.uk

8.2 Where a trade member disputes the findings and decisions of the NSHA committee they shall have the right to appeal.

8.3 Where fault is deemed to lie with an Associate member and the NSHA have been unable to resolve the matter, the Associate member will be contacted by the NSHA to seek immediate resolution. If this is not forthcoming, further action shall be taken. It shall normally be the responsibility of an Associate member, in such a  case, to fund all reasonable costs.

8.4 Where a Trade or Associate member remains in business and within the NSHA, the client shall be assured of compliance with this Code of Practice.

Supervision

9. In addition to its own complaints procedure, each member shall display on its premises the NSHA logo to publicise observance of this Code of Practice, and shall provide a copy to a client if so requested. This code shall also be displayed on www.nsha-uk.co.uk

9.1 Each Trade member shall ensure that its employees are trained to observe sale of goods legislation and to fully comprehend this Code of Practice and its operation.
Management and operatives shall also be required to observe basic standards of safe working practices and reasonable behaviour towards clients and their property.

9.2 The NSHA shall keep a record showing all complaints received and action taken in terms of resolution by conciliation, resolution by arbitration and any disciplinary action taken against a trade member.

Unlawful Actions

10. Any Trade or Associate member found guilty in a Court of Law for breach of regulations will be subject to a review by the NSHA committee.

10.1 Any Trade member found guilty in a Court of Law for fly-tipping will immediately have their membership revoked.