Health and Safety policy

Health and Safety Policy for Removal Companies in Bermondsey

This Health and Safety Policy sets out the principles and working practices followed by professional removal companies operating in Bermondsey and the surrounding areas. Its purpose is to protect employees, subcontractors, customers, visitors and members of the public from injury or ill health arising from moving, handling, transportation and related work activities.

Removal companies in Bermondsey are committed to complying with all relevant health and safety legislation and industry best practice. Management recognises its duty to provide a safe and healthy working environment and to allocate sufficient resources to achieve this. Every employee, from managers to front-line staff, shares responsibility for maintaining high standards of safety.

Management Responsibilities

Company management is responsible for establishing, implementing and reviewing health and safety arrangements across all removal services. This includes domestic and commercial moves, packing and unpacking, loading and unloading, short or long distance transport and storage-related activities.

Key responsibilities include:

Conducting suitable and sufficient risk assessments for all tasks, locations and equipment used in removal work.

Ensuring that findings from risk assessments are communicated to staff and that appropriate control measures are implemented and maintained.

Providing safe systems of work, including clear procedures for lifting, carrying, loading, driving and parking.

Supplying and maintaining vehicles, lifting aids, straps, ramps, trolleys and other equipment in safe working condition.

Providing training, instruction and supervision to enable employees to work safely and competently.

Investigating accidents, incidents and near-misses, recording findings and putting in place corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

Reviewing the Health and Safety Policy on a regular basis, and whenever there are significant changes to work activities, legislation or industry guidance.

Employee Responsibilities

Employees of Bermondsey removal companies must take reasonable care for their own health and safety and for the safety of colleagues, customers and the public. Staff are expected to:

Follow all safety instructions, training and procedures provided by the company.

Use equipment, tools and vehicles only as trained and intended, and report any defects immediately.

Apply correct manual handling techniques, use lifting aids where supplied, and avoid taking unnecessary risks.

Wear appropriate workwear and personal protective equipment where required.

Report hazards, unsafe conditions, near-misses and incidents promptly so they can be addressed.

Cooperate with management on all health and safety matters, including attending training and health surveillance where needed.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Removal work can involve heavy lifting, awkward loads, tight staircases, shared entrances, vehicle movements and variable site conditions. To control these risks, removal companies in Bermondsey will:

Carry out pre-move surveys where practicable to identify access issues, parking arrangements, heavy or fragile items and special risks.

Prepare risk assessments and method statements for higher-risk jobs, such as moves involving high floors, restricted access or specialist equipment.

Plan vehicle positioning, loading patterns and routes to reduce reversing, manual handling distances and on-road risks.

Ensure that lifting, carrying and team handling are organised so loads are manageable and weight is shared appropriately.

Use mechanical aids, such as trolleys and dollies, wherever reasonably practicable to minimise manual handling strain.

Ensure floors, stairs and access routes are kept as clear as possible during moves to prevent slips, trips and falls.

Take weather conditions into account, using additional precautions where surfaces may be wet, icy or otherwise hazardous.

Vehicles, Equipment and Maintenance

Safe vehicles and equipment are essential to professional moving operations. Bermondsey removal companies will:

Maintain all vehicles in roadworthy condition, following planned servicing, safety checks and daily pre-use inspections.

Ensure that tail lifts, ramps, straps, blankets and other load securing devices are suitable, properly used and regularly inspected.

Secure loads correctly in vehicles to prevent movement during transit and to protect both staff and the public.

Promptly remove from service any vehicle or equipment that is found to be defective, until it has been inspected and repaired.

Ensure that only trained and authorised drivers operate company vehicles.

Training, Information and Supervision

All employees involved in removal activities will receive appropriate training, instruction and supervision. This may include:

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

Manual handling training covering posture, lifting techniques, team work and use of handling aids.

Vehicle safety training, including loading, unloading, securing loads and safe driving practices in residential and commercial streets.

Job-specific training for specialist moves, such as handling pianos, safes, large appliances or delicate items.

Refresher training at suitable intervals, and additional training whenever equipment, procedures or legislation change.

Supervision levels will reflect the experience and competence of staff, the complexity of the job and the risks involved.

Customer and Public Safety

Removal activity often takes place in busy streets, shared buildings and occupied premises. To protect customers and members of the public, Bermondsey removal companies will:

Plan moves to minimise obstruction of pathways, entrances and fire exits.

Use signs or verbal warnings where necessary to alert people to moving loads, vehicle movements or temporary hazards.

Respect customer property, ensuring that items are handled carefully to reduce the risk of damage, leaks or breakages that could cause harm.

Coordinate with building managers or occupants where work affects communal areas or shared access routes.

Welfare, Health and Wellbeing

Employers recognise that removal work is physically demanding and can be mentally challenging. Reasonable steps will be taken to support staff welfare by:

Providing access to drinking water and suitable rest breaks.

Encouraging employees to report health issues that could affect safe working, such as musculoskeletal problems or fatigue.

Monitoring workloads, shift lengths and driving hours to reduce the risk of over-exertion and tiredness.

Addressing concerns about stress, harassment or bullying in line with company procedures.

Emergency Procedures and Incident Reporting

Clear procedures will be in place so that employees know how to respond to emergencies such as accidents, injuries, fires, dangerous occurrences or vehicle collisions. Staff must report all incidents, however minor, so they can be recorded, investigated and used to improve safety.

First aid provision will be maintained in line with legal requirements and the nature of the work, with appointed persons or trained first aiders available as appropriate.

Policy Review and Continuous Improvement

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains effective, up to date and relevant to removal work carried out in Bermondsey and beyond. Lessons learned from experience, industry developments, legal updates and staff feedback are used to improve procedures and promote a culture of continual safety improvement.

All employees and contractors are expected to familiarise themselves with this policy and to apply its principles in their day-to-day work.