Health and Safety policy

Health and Safety Policy for Removal Company Bromley

Removal Company Bromley is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, customers, visitors and members of the public who may be affected by our removals activities. This Health and Safety policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with household and commercial moves, packing, loading, transport and storage services.

Policy Aims

Our aims are to prevent injury, ill health and damage to property during all removal operations and to comply with all applicable health and safety legislation and recognised industry standards. We will continually improve our health and safety performance by reviewing and updating our procedures and encouraging feedback from staff and clients.

Management Responsibilities

Senior management at Removal Company Bromley has overall responsibility for implementing and maintaining this Health and Safety policy. Management will:

Provide appropriate resources to support safe working practices, including equipment, training and supervision. Ensure that risk assessments are carried out for all key activities, reviewed regularly and communicated to staff. Maintain safe systems of work for packing, lifting, carrying, loading, unloading and transport. Ensure that vehicles, lifting equipment and tools are maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition. Investigate accidents, incidents and near misses, and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

Employee Responsibilities

Every employee has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their work. All staff must:

Follow company procedures and safe systems of work at all times. Use equipment, vehicles and protective gear correctly and report defects immediately. Co operate with management on all health and safety matters, including attending training and briefings. Report accidents, incidents, near misses and hazards at the earliest opportunity. Refrain from any reckless or unsafe behaviour, including working under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Removal Company Bromley assesses risks related to moving and handling, working on customer premises, driving and site access. Before work is carried out, we will:

Identify potential hazards such as restricted access, stairs, heavy or awkward items, traffic, weather conditions and security issues. Evaluate who may be harmed and how, including staff, customers, neighbours and other contractors. Implement control measures such as team lifting, use of trolleys, ramps, floor protection, parking controls and route planning. Communicate findings to staff and update procedures if conditions change.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a significant part of removals work and will be carefully controlled. We will:

Provide instruction on correct lifting and carrying techniques to reduce strain and injury. Use mechanical aids where practicable, including sack trucks, dollies and sliders. Plan lifts to avoid twisting, overreaching or carrying loads over long distances where possible. Encourage team lifting for heavy, bulky or awkward items and make sure workloads are balanced. Assess each item for weight, size and stability before moving and refuse to move items that present unacceptable risk without additional controls.

Use of Equipment and Vehicles

We will ensure that all equipment and vehicles used by Removal Company Bromley are suitable and maintained in a safe condition. This includes:

Regular checks and servicing of vans and lorries in line with manufacturer guidelines. Inspection of straps, blankets, ramps and other load securing equipment for damage or wear. Safe loading practices to distribute weight correctly and prevent movement during transit. Ensuring that only authorised and competent employees drive company vehicles. Maintaining clear access to exits, fire extinguishers and emergency equipment in depots and storage areas.

Personal Protective Equipment

Where risks cannot be eliminated by other means, personal protective equipment will be supplied and used. This may include safety footwear, gloves, high visibility clothing and other items appropriate to the task. It is the responsibility of all employees to wear the required protective equipment, keep it in good condition and report any loss or damage.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

We recognise our duty to protect customers, neighbours and members of the public while we carry out removals. Our teams will:

Maintain clear walkways and avoid blocking entrances, fire exits or shared corridors. Use warning signs or verbal warnings where work may create temporary hazards. Protect surfaces and property from damage using covers, floor protection and padding. Control access to work areas where there is moving equipment or heavy lifting. Show respect for customers homes and businesses and minimise disruption wherever possible.

Training, Information and Supervision

Removal Company Bromley is committed to ensuring all employees are competent to perform their work safely. We will provide:

Induction training covering general health and safety arrangements and emergency procedures. Task specific training for manual handling, use of equipment, vehicle safety and working on customer sites. Ongoing briefings and refresher training when procedures or legislation change. Appropriate supervision for new or less experienced staff until they are fully competent.

Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, incidents and near misses must be reported to management as soon as possible. We will:

Record details in the appropriate accident records and, where required, notify enforcing authorities. Provide first aid arrangements suitable for the type and scale of our operations. Ensure staff know how to respond to emergencies such as fire, injury, road traffic collisions or property damage. Review incidents to identify root causes and implement improvements to prevent recurrence.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

This Health and Safety policy will be monitored on an ongoing basis and formally reviewed at regular intervals, or earlier if there are significant changes in legislation, our services or the nature of our work. We will use feedback from employees, customers and incident investigations to improve our procedures and performance over time.

By working together and following this policy, Removal Company Bromley aims to deliver safe, professional and reliable removals services throughout the area while protecting the wellbeing of everyone involved.