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Skip Permit and Road Closure Risk Assessment — Generated Instantly for £29
Placing a skip on the highway or closing a road for an event? Describe the location, duration and traffic conditions and we generate a fully written, UK-compliant risk assessment covering public safety, signage and traffic management in minutes.
Used by skip hire companies, small contractors, event organisers and traffic management teams across the UK
🚧 Skip staying on the road overnight, or closing a road entirely? Mention it — we'll include the specific lighting, signage and traffic management controls required under Section 139 of the Highways Act 1980 and Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual.
Legal requirements for skips and road closures
Section 139 of the Highways Act 1980 requires anyone depositing a skip on a public highway to obtain a permit from the local authority. The permit conditions typically require the skip to be properly lit, marked with reflective material, and guarded so it does not endanger road users, particularly at night or in poor visibility.
Temporary road closures and traffic management on the public highway must follow Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual, which sets out signage, cone spacing, taper lengths and pedestrian diversion requirements. Under Regulation 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, employers and self-employed contractors must assess the risks to both workers and members of the public before undertaking work on or near a public road.
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 also places a general duty on those in control of the work to ensure the safety of anyone affected by it, including pedestrians, cyclists and drivers passing the site. Councils increasingly expect a written risk assessment as part of the permit or road closure application process — see our guide on whether you need a risk assessment for this type of work.
How it works
1. Describe the activity
Tell us whether it's a skip placement or road closure, the road type, duration (day, overnight, multi-day), pedestrian footfall and any nearby schools, junctions or bus stops. Use our risk assessment generator to get started.
2. Let the app take the strain
Anyrisks produces a fully written, UK-compliant risk assessment referencing the Highways Act 1980, Traffic Signs Manual and relevant health and safety regulations.
3. Instant download and use
Download as PDF and Word. Submit it with your council permit application or road closure request, or keep it on file for compliance purposes. £29, no subscription.
What it covers
Every skip permit and road closure risk assessment is written in full — covering all public highway and traffic hazards relevant to your job.
Skip placement, lighting and reflective marking requirements
Section 139 Highways Act 1980 permit compliance
Cones, signage and taper lengths per Chapter 8 Traffic Signs Manual
Pedestrian safety and diversion routes
Vehicle and cyclist visibility risks around the site
Overnight and low-light hazards
Traffic marshal positioning and duties
Emergency vehicle and refuse collection access
Manual handling of cones, barriers and signage
Third-party liability and public safety measures
Weather-related risks (fog, rain, ice affecting visibility)
Coordination with local authority and utility companies
Skip overloading and falling debris onto the highway
Noise and disruption to nearby residents and businesses
Works for
From a single skip outside a house to a full road closure for a street event, Anyrisks covers every scenario.
What customers say
"The council wanted a risk assessment with our skip permit application and I had no idea where to start. Anyrisks gave me a proper document referencing the Highways Act in about two minutes."
Dave R.
Skip hire operator, Leeds
"We run a small street fair every summer and the borough finally asked for a formal road closure risk assessment. This covered the pedestrian diversions and marshal positions exactly as needed."
Hannah T.
Community event organiser, Bristol
"I've got skips out on residential roads most weeks. Having a proper written assessment covering lighting and signage means I'm never caught out if the council asks for it."
Kevin M.
Sole trader builder, Manchester
Anyrisks vs DIY templates
| Anyrisks | DIY / Templates | |
|---|---|---|
| Written in full — not a blank form | ✓ | ✗ |
| Highways Act 1980 permit conditions referenced | ✓ | ✗ |
| Chapter 8 Traffic Signs Manual signage covered | ✓ | ✗ |
| Covers both skip placement and road closures | ✓ | ✗ |
| Pedestrian and traffic management measures included | ✓ | ✗ |
| Accepted alongside council permit applications | ✓ | Sometimes |
| Ready in under 2 minutes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Instant PDF and Word download | ✓ | Sometimes |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a risk assessment to place a skip on the public highway?
Yes. Most local authorities require a written risk assessment alongside your skip permit application, and under Regulation 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 anyone placing a skip on a public road must assess the risks to workers and the public before the skip arrives.
Is this different from a standard skip hire risk assessment?
Yes. A standard skip hire assessment covers loading, filling and manual handling on private land. This assessment specifically addresses public highway placement — lighting, cones, signage, traffic management and pedestrian safety required under Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual.
What legislation covers skips on the highway?
Section 139 of the Highways Act 1980 requires a permit from the local council before placing a skip on a public road, and sets conditions for lighting and guarding. The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 (TSRGD) govern the signage and cones required around the skip.
Does it cover temporary road closures for events or works?
Yes — describe whether you need a full closure, partial closure or lane restriction and the assessment will include traffic management measures aligned with Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual, including diversion signage, marshal positioning and pedestrian routes.
Will the council accept this alongside my permit application?
Anyrisks produces a fully written, regulation-referenced risk assessment in the standard format expected by local authority highways departments. Many councils require evidence of a suitable risk assessment as part of the skip permit or road closure application.
Does it cover lighting and cone requirements for overnight skips?
Yes — mention that the skip will remain in place overnight and the assessment will include the reflective markings, cones and lighting required under Section 139 of the Highways Act 1980 to keep the skip visible to road users after dark.
Can I use it for a one-off event road closure rather than a skip?
Yes. Describe the event, the road type, expected footfall and vehicle movements, and Anyrisks will generate a risk assessment covering pedestrian and traffic management specific to temporary event closures.
How long does it take to generate?
Under 2 minutes. Describe the location, duration and type of highway activity — skip placement or road closure — and Anyrisks produces a complete, regulation-referenced risk assessment instantly.
Also see: The Ultimate Guide to Risk Assessment · Do I Need a Risk Assessment · Risk Assessment Legal Requirements · Risk Assessment Generator