Health and Safety Policy for Removal Company Bermondsey

This Health and Safety Policy sets out how Removal Company Bermondsey manages the health, safety and welfare of employees, subcontractors, customers, visitors and members of the public during all removal and related services. Our aim is to prevent injury, ill health and damage to property by identifying and controlling risks associated with moving, handling, transport and storage activities.

1. Policy Statement

Removal Company Bermondsey is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment and to conducting all removal operations in accordance with applicable health and safety legislation and recognised industry standards. We will take all reasonably practicable steps to protect people from harm arising from our work.

Health and safety management is an integral part of planning and delivering our services. This policy applies to all operations, including domestic removals, commercial moves, packing services, loading and unloading, short term storage handling and any associated transport work carried out in Bermondsey and surrounding areas.

2. Responsibilities

The overall responsibility for health and safety rests with the company management, who will ensure that appropriate resources, information, training and supervision are provided to maintain safe systems of work.

Managers and supervisors are responsible for implementing this policy on a day to day basis, including:

Ensuring risk assessments and method statements are completed, communicated and followed. Checking that vehicles, lifting equipment, trolleys and other tools are maintained in a safe condition. Allocating tasks with regard to competence, experience and fitness for work. Monitoring work practices at customers premises, on the road and at any storage or loading locations.

Employees and subcontractors have a duty to:

Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Follow training, instructions, safe systems of work and site rules. Use equipment, vehicles and personal protective equipment correctly. Report hazards, incidents, near misses, defects and unsafe conditions without delay. Cooperate fully with any investigation, audit or review related to health and safety.

Customers and visitors are expected to cooperate with our staff by keeping access routes clear, providing accurate information about site conditions and following any safety guidance given by our team.

3. Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

We will identify hazards and assess risks for all key activities involved in our removal services. This includes manual handling of furniture and boxes, use of lifting aids, vehicle movements, loading and unloading, work in stairwells, corridors and confined spaces, working in residential streets and commercial premises and handling fragile or high value items.

Written risk assessments and method statements will be prepared where appropriate. These will be reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes in work processes, equipment, locations or legislation. Control measures may include planning access routes, using appropriate lifting techniques and equipment, limiting load weights, team lifting for heavy or awkward items, traffic management, and protection of floors, walls and fixtures.

4. Manual Handling and Use of Equipment

Manual handling is a core element of our work and will be carefully managed to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injury.

We will ensure that employees receive manual handling training relevant to removal work, including safe lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling and team handling techniques. Staff are expected to avoid unnecessary manual lifting wherever mechanical or handling aids are available.

Equipment such as sack trucks, dollies, furniture sliders, straps, ramps and protective materials will be provided where appropriate, maintained in a safe condition and used in accordance with training and instructions. Any defects or concerns relating to equipment must be reported immediately and the equipment taken out of use until made safe.

5. Vehicles, Driving and Transport Safety

Our vehicles will be selected and maintained to ensure they are suitable and safe for removal operations.

Drivers must hold the appropriate licence, be medically fit and follow all road traffic and transport regulations. Vehicle checks will be carried out regularly to ensure that brakes, tyres, lights, loading equipment and restraint systems are in good working order.

Loads will be planned and secured to prevent shifting in transit. Safe loading limits will not be exceeded. Particular care will be taken when manoeuvring and parking in residential streets, busy commercial areas and restricted access locations to protect pedestrians, other road users and property.

6. Workplace and Site Safety

Before work begins at any property, our team will review the work area to identify hazards such as uneven surfaces, trip risks, restricted staircases, low ceilings, fragile surfaces, poor lighting or shared access points.

Where necessary, control measures may include setting up safe routes for carrying items, using warning signs or cones, arranging temporary restrictions on access, requesting the removal of obstacles, and coordinating with building managers or residents to minimise risk.

We will take reasonable steps to avoid damage to customer premises and neighbouring properties. Protective coverings may be used on floors and high traffic areas. Items will be loaded and unloaded with care to prevent collision with structures, fixtures and fittings.

7. Training, Information and Supervision

All employees will receive health and safety induction training and job specific instruction covering topics such as manual handling, use of equipment, vehicle safety, personal protective equipment, incident reporting and emergency procedures.

Ongoing training and tool box talks will be provided to refresh knowledge and address any new risks. Supervisors will monitor working methods, correct unsafe behaviours and provide guidance to newer staff.

Health and safety information, including this policy, will be made available to all staff and discussed regularly to encourage a positive safety culture.

8. Personal Protective Equipment

Where risks cannot be eliminated by other means, appropriate personal protective equipment will be provided, such as safety footwear, gloves, high visibility clothing or other items identified by risk assessment.

Employees must use the protective equipment provided, keep it in good condition and report any defects so that it can be repaired or replaced.

9. Incident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, injuries, near misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported to management as soon as possible. Records will be kept and incidents will be investigated to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.

Our staff will be briefed on emergency arrangements, including fire safety, evacuation procedures, first aid provision and how to respond to road traffic incidents during removal journeys.

10. Monitoring and Review

Removal Company Bermondsey will monitor health and safety performance through incident statistics, inspections, vehicle and equipment checks, staff feedback and periodic audits.

This policy will be reviewed regularly and updated where necessary to reflect changes in legislation, guidance, company operations or identified areas for improvement. All revisions will be communicated to employees and implemented across our services in Bermondsey and the wider service area.

Everyone involved in our work shares responsibility for maintaining safe working conditions. By working together and following this Health and Safety Policy, we aim to ensure that every move is carried out as safely and efficiently as possible.