Removals Dulwich Health and Safety Policy
This Health and Safety policy explains how Removals Dulwich manages safety during removals and related services. Our aim is to protect employees, clients, the public and property while delivering efficient moves across our service areas. We are committed to maintaining high standards, complying with relevant health and safety legislation, and continually improving our practices.
Policy Statement and Objectives
Removals Dulwich recognises its duty to provide a safe and healthy working environment. Our objectives are to prevent injury, ill health, damage to property, and disruption to clients. We will identify and control risks associated with packing, loading, transporting and unloading household and commercial goods, including moves involving stairs, restricted access and busy streets common within our operating locations.
We will allocate appropriate resources to health and safety and ensure that this policy is understood, implemented and regularly reviewed. Health and safety considerations form an integral part of our planning for every removal project.
Management Responsibilities
The management team at Removals Dulwich holds overall responsibility for health and safety performance. This includes setting standards, ensuring legal compliance and providing equipment and training suitable for the tasks undertaken. Management will ensure that risk assessments are carried out, safe systems of work are developed, and staff are informed of any specific hazards related to particular properties, routes or items being moved.
Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for implementing this policy on site, monitoring work practices, correcting unsafe behaviour, and reporting incidents and near misses. They must ensure staff follow agreed procedures and use equipment correctly.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees of Removals Dulwich have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others affected by their work. Staff must follow training, instructions and safe working procedures at all times. They must use personal protective equipment and handling aids as provided, report any hazards or defects immediately, and cooperate fully with accident investigations and safety reviews.
Employees are expected to avoid improvising unsafe methods of lifting, carrying, stacking or securing loads, and to ask for assistance or additional equipment where tasks exceed individual capability.
Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices
Removals Dulwich undertakes risk assessments for typical removal activities and for specific locations or unusual items when required. These assessments consider manual handling risks, trip and slip hazards, working in confined spaces, vehicle movement, access issues, weather conditions, and the presence of vulnerable persons such as children or older adults at the premises.
Based on these assessments, safe systems of work are developed. These may include preferred routes in and out of properties, restrictions on the weight or size of items carried by individuals, use of trolleys and other aids, and procedures for working in multi-storey buildings. All staff are briefed on relevant findings before work begins.
Manual Handling and Use of Equipment
As a removals company, manual handling is a significant part of our operations. Removals Dulwich minimises lifting and carrying where possible by using handling equipment such as sack trucks, dollies, furniture skates, lifting straps and ramps. Items are wrapped and secured to make them easier and safer to move.
Staff receive training in correct lifting techniques, team carrying, load assessment and route planning. No employee is required to lift or carry items that they reasonably believe are beyond their capability or unsafe due to size, weight or shape. Mechanical aids are inspected regularly and removed from service if defective.
Vehicle Safety and Load Security
Removals Dulwich ensures that vehicles used for removals are maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition. Drivers are responsible for daily vehicle checks and reporting any defects. Loads are planned to ensure even weight distribution, with heavy items secured at floor level wherever possible.
Goods are fastened using straps, rails and other securing devices to prevent movement during transport. Care is taken when parking and operating near residential streets, commercial premises and shared access areas to minimise risk to pedestrians, cyclists and other road users.
Client and Public Safety
During removals work, Removals Dulwich takes reasonable steps to safeguard clients and members of the public. Where practicable, walkways are kept clear and well defined, trip hazards are highlighted or managed, and access points are controlled while large or heavy items are being moved.
Clients are informed about any areas that need to remain clear during the move and are advised to keep children and pets away from active work zones. We will cooperate with building managers, neighbours and other parties to manage shared spaces safely.
Training, Information and Supervision
Removals Dulwich provides suitable training for employees based on their roles, including induction training for new staff and refresher training when needed. Topics include manual handling, use of equipment, safe vehicle loading, working in client premises and emergency procedures. Additional briefings are given for unusual or higher-risk tasks.
Supervision is proportionate to the risks and the experience of the team. Less experienced staff are paired with more experienced colleagues until they demonstrate the required competence for specific tasks.
Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures
All accidents, injuries, near misses and instances of property damage must be reported to management as soon as practicable. Removals Dulwich maintains records of such events to help identify trends and prevent recurrence. Following an incident, appropriate investigation will be carried out and control measures will be reviewed.
Employees are briefed on emergency procedures, including actions to take in the event of fire, serious injury, road traffic collisions or structural concerns at a property. First aid equipment is made available, and staff know how to summon further assistance when required.
Welfare and Occupational Health
Removals Dulwich recognises the physical nature of removals work and aims to prevent ill health through sensible task design, rest breaks and rotation of duties where practical. Staff are encouraged to report early signs of strain or discomfort so that adjustments can be made. We will consider medical advice when allocating duties to ensure that work is suitable for individual capabilities.
Continuous Improvement and Policy Review
Removals Dulwich is committed to continuous improvement in health and safety performance. Feedback from employees, clients and other parties is welcomed and used to refine procedures. This policy and related arrangements will be reviewed regularly and updated when there are significant changes in legislation, best practice, work activities or operating locations.
All employees and relevant contractors will be informed of any significant changes to this policy. The current version of the Health and Safety policy is available to staff and clients upon request.
