Health and Safety Policy for Removal Company Roehampton

Removal Company Roehampton is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, customers, contractors and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and relocation activities. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety across all services, including residential moves, commercial moves, packing, loading, transportation and unloading.

We recognise that professional moving work involves manual handling, the use of vehicles, access to different types of properties and interaction with a wide range of customers. We therefore place health and safety at the centre of our planning, daily operations and ongoing training.

Our Health and Safety Objectives

Our primary objectives are to prevent accidents, injuries, work-related ill health and damage to property, while delivering reliable removal services. We will continually seek to:

Identify hazards associated with our removal activities and assess the level of risk they pose.

Implement effective control measures to reduce risks to a level that is as low as reasonably practicable.

Comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and recognised industry standards.

Provide clear information, training and supervision so that employees can work safely and responsibly.

Review and improve our systems of work in light of experience, feedback and changes in law or best practice.

Management Responsibilities

Senior management at Removal Company Roehampton holds overall responsibility for health and safety performance. Management will:

Establish and maintain appropriate health and safety procedures for all removal services.

Ensure that risk assessments and method statements are prepared, communicated and followed for moving, lifting, carrying, driving and other tasks.

Provide and maintain suitable equipment, vehicles and materials in safe working condition.

Allocate sufficient resources for training, supervision and safety equipment.

Monitor compliance with this policy through regular checks, inspections and incident reviews.

Lead by example by demonstrating safe behaviour and reinforcing the importance of health and safety at work.

Employee Responsibilities

Every employee has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions. All removal staff, supervisors and drivers are expected to:

Follow the company’s health and safety procedures, instructions and training at all times.

Use vehicles, tools, lifting equipment and personal protective equipment correctly and never misuse or tamper with safety devices.

Adopt safe manual handling techniques when lifting, carrying and loading items, making use of handling aids and requesting assistance when necessary.

Report hazards, defects, near misses and incidents immediately to their supervisor so that corrective action can be taken.

Refrain from working under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and notify management of any medical conditions that may affect their ability to work safely.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We carry out risk assessments for typical removal activities, as well as for more complex or higher risk jobs. These assessments consider factors such as property layout, access routes, stairs, parking, heavy or awkward items, and any specific customer requirements.

From these assessments, method statements and safe systems of work are developed and communicated to staff. These may include:

Safe loading and unloading procedures to prevent falls, crush injuries and damage to goods.

Use of trolleys, dollies, ramps and other equipment to reduce manual handling strain.

Safe parking and vehicle movement to protect staff, customers and the public.

Procedures to manage access in shared buildings, narrow streets and busy areas during removals.

Only competent personnel are authorised to operate vehicles and any specialised equipment. Where required, additional controls are implemented for fragile, high-value or unusual items.

Training, Information and Supervision

Removal Company Roehampton provides appropriate training and information to all staff so that they understand their responsibilities and can perform their duties safely. This includes:

Induction training on company health and safety rules, emergency procedures and reporting processes.

Practical training in safe lifting, carrying, team handling and the use of moving equipment.

Driver training and briefings on safe driving, load security and road safety obligations.

Ongoing refresher training and toolbox talks to maintain awareness and address emerging risks.

Supervisors and team leaders monitor work on site to ensure that procedures are followed and that any unsafe practices are corrected promptly.

Vehicles, Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment

Our vehicles and equipment are essential to providing a safe and efficient removal service. We will ensure that:

Removal vehicles are maintained, inspected and serviced in line with legal requirements and manufacturer guidance.

Lifting aids, trolleys, straps and other equipment are regularly checked and removed from service if defective.

Personal protective equipment, such as gloves, safety footwear or high-visibility clothing, is provided where necessary and used as instructed.

Loads are secured properly to prevent movement or falling items during transport, loading and unloading.

Customer and Public Safety

We are committed to protecting our customers and the general public during moving operations. Where reasonably practicable we will:

Plan access routes to minimise disruption and prevent trips, slips and falls.

Manage loading areas to reduce the risk of collisions or obstruction.

Communicate clearly with customers about the timing of works and any short-term restrictions inside or outside their property.

Respect customer premises by maintaining good housekeeping, keeping walkways clear and promptly addressing spills or other hazards.

Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, incidents, near misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported and recorded. We investigate incidents to identify root causes and implement corrective actions. We maintain appropriate emergency procedures covering first aid, fire, vehicle breakdowns and other foreseeable events.

Staff are briefed on emergency contacts, safe evacuation routes and the process for obtaining medical assistance where required. Lessons learned from incidents and emergencies are used to improve our future performance.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

This Health and Safety Policy is monitored on an ongoing basis and formally reviewed at regular intervals, or following significant changes in our operations or relevant legislation. Where improvements are identified, we will update our procedures, training and controls accordingly.

Removal Company Roehampton expects the cooperation of all employees, contractors and partners in implementing this policy. By working together and maintaining a strong safety culture, we aim to deliver reliable, professional and safe removal services for all clients.