Health and Safety policy

Removal Companies Sutton Health and Safety Policy

This Health and Safety policy sets out how our removal company manages health, safety and welfare for employees, contractors, customers and members of the public across Sutton and the surrounding areas. Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health and property damage during all removal, packing, transport and storage activities.

Health and Safety Commitment

We are committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment and to continually improving our health and safety performance. Senior management accepts overall responsibility for health and safety and ensures that sufficient resources, instruction, supervision and equipment are provided to control risks associated with our removal services.

We recognise our duties under relevant health and safety legislation and industry best practice, and we expect all staff and contractors to cooperate in maintaining safe standards across all moves, whether domestic or commercial.

Scope of the Policy

This policy applies to all removal activities undertaken by the company, including but not limited to pre-move surveys, packing and unpacking, loading and unloading of vehicles, transport of goods, use of lifting and access equipment, and short or long term storage operations. It covers work carried out at customer premises, on public roads, at our own depots and in any third-party facilities we may use in Sutton and neighbouring districts.

Health and Safety Responsibilities

Management is responsible for:

Ensuring a suitable health and safety management system is in place, setting objectives and monitoring performance.

Providing safe equipment, vehicles and work systems and ensuring they are properly maintained.

Identifying training needs and ensuring all employees receive appropriate induction and refresher training.

Carrying out and reviewing risk assessments for all key tasks and locations.

Investigating accidents, near misses and complaints, taking corrective and preventive action where required.

Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for:

Implementing safe systems of work on site and during transit.

Ensuring that staff use equipment and personal protective equipment correctly.

Checking that vehicles are loaded, secured and operated in line with company and legal requirements.

Reporting hazards, incidents and concerns promptly to management.

Employees and contractors are responsible for:

Taking reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.

Following all training, procedures and instructions issued by the company.

Using equipment safely and reporting any defects immediately.

Reporting accidents, near misses, unsafe conditions or practices without delay.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

We carry out risk assessments for our main removal activities, including manual handling, loading and unloading, working at height, vehicle movements and working in customer homes and business premises. Site-specific considerations, such as restricted access, staircases, parking in busy streets and shared access areas, are evaluated before and during each job.

Findings from risk assessments are used to develop safe systems of work and method statements. These are communicated to staff through briefings and training, and are reviewed periodically or when there are significant changes in work practices, equipment, locations or legislation.

Manual Handling and Use of Equipment

Manual handling is a key risk in the removals sector. We minimise the risk of injury by:

Providing manual handling training that covers lifting techniques, team lifting, use of mechanical aids and recognition of personal limits.

Planning each move to avoid unnecessary carrying and to use the most suitable handling equipment.

Providing and maintaining appropriate equipment, such as trolleys, dollies, sack trucks, ramps and lifts.

Encouraging staff to stop and seek assistance whenever a load is too heavy, bulky or unstable to handle safely.

Vehicle, Driving and Road Safety

We are committed to safe driving practices and the safe use of all company vehicles. This includes:

Ensuring that vehicles are regularly inspected, maintained and kept roadworthy.

Checking that drivers hold the correct licences and are medically fit to drive.

Planning routes in Sutton and beyond to allow adequate time, avoid unnecessary pressure, and consider restricted streets or controlled parking zones.

Ensuring that loads are distributed and secured correctly to prevent movement during travel.

Requiring drivers to comply with speed limits, parking rules and regulations on driving hours and rest periods where applicable.

Working at Height and Use of Access Equipment

Where work at height is unavoidable, for example on external stairways, vehicle access steps or when utilising certain lifting solutions, we take steps to reduce the risk of falls. Only trained staff may use ladders or specialised access equipment, and equipment must be inspected before use. Work at height is planned in advance, and alternative solutions are used wherever they provide a safer option.

Hazardous Substances and Customer Goods

Certain items cannot be transported or stored for safety reasons, including some flammable, corrosive or explosive materials. Customers are informed of restricted items as part of the booking and survey process. Any hazardous substances used by the company, such as fuels or cleaning chemicals, are assessed and controlled in accordance with relevant regulations, with information and training provided to staff.

Training, Information and Supervision

All personnel receive a health and safety induction when they join the company, covering emergency procedures, safe working practices, reporting arrangements and responsibilities. Role-specific training, such as driving, manual handling, vehicle loading or use of lifting equipment, is provided as appropriate. Refresher training is carried out periodically and when procedures, equipment or legislation change.

Supervision is provided on site and during moves to ensure that standards are applied consistently and that new or temporary workers receive the support they need to work safely.

Welfare, First Aid and Emergency Procedures

We provide suitable welfare arrangements for staff, including access to rest breaks, drinking water and sanitary facilities during the working day, taking into account the mobile nature of removal work. Adequate first aid provisions are made in vehicles and at our premises, and designated personnel are trained in basic first aid procedures.

Emergency procedures, including fire safety, road traffic incidents, spillage response and dealing with injuries, are communicated to all employees. Where work is carried out in large or complex premises, our teams cooperate with the customer to understand and comply with site-specific emergency arrangements.

Consultation and Communication

We encourage open communication on health and safety matters. Employees are consulted about changes that may affect their health and safety and are invited to raise concerns or suggestions for improvement. Regular briefings and toolbox talks are used to share information about incidents, best practice and lessons learned.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

Our health and safety performance is monitored through inspections, audits, incident reports and feedback from staff and customers. This information is used to identify trends, implement improvements and update risk assessments and procedures.

This policy is reviewed at least annually, and sooner if there are significant changes in our operations, locations, organisational structure or relevant legislation. The latest version is made available to employees, contractors and customers on request.