North Kensington Removals Health and Safety Policy

North Kensington Removals is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, contractors, customers and members of the public who may be affected by our removals and related services. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risk, preventing injury and ill health, and promoting a culture of safety and responsibility across all aspects of our work.

1. Policy Statement and Objectives

We recognise our duty to manage health and safety risks associated with removal, packing, loading, transportation and delivery of goods. Our objectives are to prevent accidents, protect health, safeguard property, and ensure that all work is carried out in a professional and controlled manner.

We will continually seek to improve our health and safety performance by regularly reviewing our processes, training, equipment and working practices, and by involving staff in developing safer ways of working.

2. Responsibilities

Overall responsibility for health and safety lies with the company management, who will ensure that adequate resources, equipment and training are provided to maintain safe operations.

Managers and supervisors are responsible for implementing this policy in day-to-day operations, including planning work safely, carrying out risk assessments, reporting hazards, and making sure that all staff understand and follow safe systems of work.

All employees, contractors and agency staff have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others affected by their actions. They must follow training and instructions, use equipment correctly, wear any required personal protective equipment, and report hazards, near misses and incidents without delay.

3. Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

We will identify, assess and manage risks associated with our activities, including but not limited to manual handling, working in and around vehicles, use of lifting aids, working at height for access to properties, and moving goods in confined or shared spaces.

Risk assessments will be carried out for regular tasks and for non-routine or particularly complex moves. Findings will be recorded and used to develop safe systems of work and method statements. These will be communicated to staff and reviewed whenever work methods, equipment or locations change, or after any relevant incident.

4. Manual Handling and Use of Equipment

Manual handling is a core part of removal work and presents a significant risk of injury if not managed properly. We will minimise manual handling risks by:

Providing suitable trolleys, dollies, lifting straps and other handling aids appropriate to the items being moved and the building layout.

Ensuring that employees are trained in correct lifting and carrying techniques, team lifting and safe use of handling equipment.

Planning routes for moving items to avoid unnecessary carrying, obstacles, uneven surfaces or restricted access where possible.

Refusing to undertake lifting or moving tasks that are assessed as unsafe due to weight, size, condition of items, or environmental constraints.

5. Vehicles, Driving and Road Safety

Safe operation of vehicles is essential to our removals service. We will ensure that our vehicles are maintained, inspected and cleaned regularly, and that any defects are reported promptly and taken out of service if necessary.

Only authorised and competent drivers may operate company vehicles. Drivers must comply with road traffic laws, drive defensively, and follow company guidelines on loading, securing loads, parking, reversing, and working in residential and commercial streets.

Loads must always be secured in a way that prevents movement, instability or damage during transit. Drivers are responsible for checking that loads are safe before departure and at appropriate points during journeys.

6. Site Safety and Public Protection

Our teams work in homes, offices, shared buildings, storage facilities and public areas. We will take all reasonable steps to protect clients, neighbours, visitors and members of the public from harm arising from our activities.

Where appropriate, we will use warning signs, barriers or spotters to manage vehicle movements, lift bulky items and operate in confined or shared areas such as stairwells and corridors.

We are committed to leaving work areas safe, orderly and free from unnecessary obstructions, including proper management of packing materials, waste and equipment during and after each job.

7. Training, Information and Supervision

We will provide suitable and ongoing health and safety training to all staff, including induction training for new starters and role-specific training for crew leaders, drivers and office staff who plan or coordinate moves.

Training will cover relevant topics such as manual handling, hazard awareness, working in clients premises, use of lifting equipment, vehicle safety and emergency procedures.

Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for monitoring working practices on site, providing guidance and correcting unsafe behaviour. Refresher training and toolbox talks will be delivered as required.

8. Personal Protective Equipment

Where risks cannot be fully controlled through other measures, appropriate personal protective equipment will be provided, such as safety footwear, gloves, high visibility clothing and any additional items identified by risk assessment.

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

9. Incident Reporting and Investigation

All accidents, incidents, near misses and cases of work-related ill health must be reported to management as soon as possible. We will investigate incidents to identify root causes and implement measures to prevent recurrence.

Records of incidents and investigations will be maintained and reviewed periodically to identify trends and areas for improvement.

10. Welfare, Wellbeing and Working Conditions

We recognise that the nature of removal work can be physically demanding and sometimes carried out under time pressure or in challenging conditions. We will plan work to avoid excessive hours, provide adequate rest breaks and encourage staff to raise concerns about fatigue, stress or any health issues that may affect their ability to work safely.

We will provide appropriate welfare arrangements for staff during jobs, including reasonable access to drinking water, rest facilities where practical and facilities to maintain personal hygiene.

11. Consultation and Continuous Improvement

We believe that effective health and safety management requires open communication. Employees are encouraged to contribute ideas for improving safety and to report hazards or concerns without fear of reprisal.

Management will consult with staff on changes that affect health and safety and will review this policy regularly to ensure it remains suitable, effective and aligned with current best practice in the removals industry.

12. Review of Policy

This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed at least annually, and whenever there are significant changes in our operations, legislation, or after a serious incident. Updated versions of the policy will be communicated to all staff and made available to clients upon request.

By following this policy, North Kensington Removals aims to deliver a professional, reliable and safe removals service while protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of everyone involved in or affected by our work.