Health and Safety Policy for Removal Company Harringay

This Health and Safety Policy sets out the principles and procedures followed by Removal Company Harringay to protect the health, safety and welfare of our employees, customers, contractors and members of the public during all moving and related activities. Our aim is to provide professional removal services while preventing accidents, injuries and damage to property.

Policy Statement

Removal Company Harringay is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy working environment in all locations where we operate, including customers premises, storage facilities and on the road. We comply with all applicable health and safety legislation and continually work to improve our standards.

Health and safety are integral to how we plan and deliver every move, from initial survey through to completion of the job. Management at all levels are responsible for ensuring this policy is implemented, communicated and reviewed regularly.

Aims and Objectives

Our main health and safety objectives are to:

Prevent accidents, injuries and work-related ill health arising from our activities.
Identify and control significant risks associated with lifting, carrying, loading, driving and working in customers homes and premises.
Provide clear instructions, information, training and supervision to ensure employees are competent to carry out their work safely.
Maintain safe equipment, vehicles and working environments.
Engage and consult with employees on health and safety matters and encourage reporting of hazards and near misses.
Continually review and improve our health and safety performance.

Responsibilities

Overall responsibility for health and safety rests with the company management, who are required to:

Ensure this policy is implemented, maintained and reviewed.
Provide appropriate resources for health and safety, including training and equipment.
Ensure risk assessments are carried out and control measures are implemented and monitored.
Lead by example and promote a positive safety culture.

Supervisors and team leaders must:

Plan work to minimise risks, including manual handling and vehicle movements.
Ensure staff follow safe systems of work and wear appropriate personal protective equipment.
Report and investigate accidents, incidents and near misses.
Monitor the condition of vehicles, lifting aids and other equipment used on removals.

Employees are required to:

Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.
Follow all safety instructions, training and procedures.
Use equipment, tools and vehicles correctly and report any defects immediately.
Report hazards, near misses and unsafe conditions without delay.
Cooperate fully with management to achieve safe working practices on all jobs.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We carry out risk assessments for core removal activities, including lifting and carrying furniture and boxes, dismantling and reassembling items, loading and unloading vehicles, working in stairwells, narrow streets and restricted access properties, and driving and operating vehicles in residential and commercial areas.

Based on these assessments, we implement safe systems of work, such as:

Assessing item weight and route before lifting or moving.
Using team lifts and lifting aids where necessary.
Planning loading to avoid overstacking and unstable loads.
Securing loads in vehicles to prevent movement in transit.
Maintaining clear walkways and controlling vehicle movements at collection and delivery points.

Manual Handling

Manual handling is a significant part of removal work and poses risks of strains and other injuries. To manage these risks, we:

Provide manual handling training to all staff involved in lifting and carrying.
Encourage staff to assess each lift and not to attempt to move items that are too heavy or awkward without assistance.
Use trolleys, dollies, straps and other handling aids where appropriate.
Break down loads into smaller, manageable components wherever possible.

Vehicles and Driving Safety

Safe operation of vehicles is essential to our removal services. We ensure that:

All drivers hold the appropriate licences and receive training in safe driving and load security.
Vehicles are regularly inspected, serviced and maintained to a safe standard.
Loads are evenly distributed and securely fastened before travel.
Drivers comply with road traffic laws and drive with consideration for local conditions, pedestrians and other road users.
Parking and access at collection and delivery sites are planned to reduce reversing and minimise risk to the public.

Protecting Customers and the Public

Our teams work in and around homes, offices and communal areas. We therefore take particular care to:

Keep access routes as clear as possible during moves.
Use warning signs or verbal warnings where there are temporary trip or slip hazards.
Control vehicle movements near entrances, pavements and shared driveways.
Handle customers property with care to avoid damage and disturbance.

Training, Information and Supervision

We provide induction training for new staff and ongoing training for existing staff covering manual handling, safe loading and unloading, use of equipment, vehicle and driving safety, incident reporting and emergency procedures.

Supervisors monitor work on site to ensure safe practices are followed and to provide guidance and support where needed.

Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, incidents and near misses must be reported to management as soon as possible. We record and investigate these events to identify causes and take steps to prevent recurrence.

Employees are briefed on emergency procedures relevant to their work, including what to do in case of fire, injury or sudden illness at a customer property or on the road.

Consultation and Continuous Improvement

We encourage employees to raise health and safety concerns and suggestions for improvement. Regular reviews of working practices, equipment and training are carried out to ensure that our health and safety arrangements remain effective and appropriate for the areas in which we operate.

Policy Review

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and updated when necessary to reflect changes in legislation, best practice, our operations or the areas we serve. All staff are made aware of any changes that may affect their work.