Woking Removals Health and Safety Policy

Woking Removals is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for all employees, contractors, customers and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and relocation services. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety risks associated with domestic and commercial removals, storage handling, packing, loading, transportation and unloading.

Policy Statement

Our objective is to prevent accidents, injuries and work-related ill health by identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing effective controls. We will comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and recognised industry standards relating to removal and transport operations. Health and safety considerations form an integral part of our planning, decision making and daily activities.

This policy applies to all employees of Woking Removals and to any subcontractors working on our behalf. We expect everyone engaged in our operations to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.

Management Responsibilities

Senior management has overall responsibility for implementing and maintaining this Health and Safety Policy. Management will:

Assess the significant risks associated with removal activities, including manual handling, driving, working at height, use of equipment and interaction with customers premises.

Ensure that safe systems of work and clear procedures are developed, communicated and followed for packing, lifting, carrying, loading, unloading and transporting goods.

Provide appropriate information, instruction, training and supervision to enable employees to work safely and competently.

Supply and maintain suitable work equipment, vehicles and personal protective equipment in safe working condition.

Investigate accidents, incidents and near misses, identify underlying causes and implement corrective and preventative measures.

Review this policy and associated procedures on a regular basis and when significant changes occur in our operations.

Employee Responsibilities

Every employee has a duty to work safely and support our health and safety arrangements. Employees are expected to:

Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of colleagues, customers and the public.

Follow all safety procedures and instructions provided by Woking Removals.

Use vehicles, tools, equipment and personal protective equipment correctly and report any defects immediately.

Apply correct manual handling techniques and request assistance or lifting equipment for heavy or awkward items.

Maintain high standards of housekeeping, keeping walkways, loading areas and vehicles clear of obstructions.

Report all accidents, injuries, near misses and unsafe conditions promptly to their supervisor.

Participate in health and safety training and briefings as required.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We will carry out risk assessments for all significant hazards related to our removal services. These assessments will consider the nature of items being moved, access routes, property conditions, vehicle loading, traffic conditions and environmental factors.

From these assessments we will develop and maintain safe working practices, including:

Planning routes for safe vehicle access and parking near properties.

Assessing staircases, lifts, doorways and outdoor paths prior to moving items.

Using appropriate lifting aids such as trolleys, dollies and straps where necessary.

Applying team lifting techniques for large, heavy or bulky items.

Securing loads safely within vehicles to prevent movement during transit.

Managing weather related risks such as wet, icy or uneven surfaces.

Manual Handling

Manual handling is a core part of removal work and a key area of risk. Woking Removals will:

Provide training in correct lifting, carrying and team handling methods.

Encourage staff to assess each lift before starting and to refuse unsafe lifts.

Use handling equipment whenever reasonably practicable.

Avoid unnecessary carrying distances by planning loading and unloading operations efficiently.

Monitor work practices to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries.

Vehicle and Driving Safety

Our vehicles are central to our services and must be operated safely at all times. We will:

Maintain vehicles in a roadworthy condition with regular inspections and servicing.

Ensure that drivers are competent, appropriately licensed and medically fit to drive.

Plan realistic schedules to reduce time pressure and encourage safe driving behaviour.

Secure loads to prevent shifting, falling or damage during transit.

Follow all road traffic laws and drive with consideration for other road users.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

We recognise our duty to protect customers and the public while working at or near their premises. Our teams will:

Introduce themselves on arrival and agree safe access routes with the customer.

Use warning signs or verbal warnings where necessary to alert people to moving operations.

Take care to prevent trip hazards from packing materials, tools and equipment.

Minimise noise, obstruction and disruption in shared or public areas.

Respect customer property and take reasonable steps to avoid damage.

Training and Competence

Woking Removals will provide suitable health and safety training for all employees, including induction training for new starters and refresher training when required. Training may cover manual handling, use of equipment, vehicle safety, accident reporting, emergency procedures and any other risks identified in our operations.

Supervisors will monitor work practices and provide ongoing guidance to ensure that safe working methods are applied consistently.

Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, injuries, near misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported as soon as possible to a supervisor or manager. We will keep records of incidents, investigate their causes and take appropriate action to prevent recurrence.

Employees must familiarise themselves with emergency procedures, including what to do in the event of fire, serious injury, sudden illness or road traffic incidents during removal work.

Review of Policy

This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed regularly to ensure it remains effective, up to date and appropriate for the nature and scale of our operations. Revisions will be communicated to all employees and, where relevant, to contractors working on behalf of Woking Removals.

By working together and following this policy, we aim to deliver professional removal services while protecting the wellbeing of everyone involved.