South Lambeth Removals Health and Safety Policy

South Lambeth Removals is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, customers, visitors, contractors and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and relocation activities. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety in all aspects of our operations, including domestic removals, office moves and related storage and logistics services.

We recognise our responsibilities under relevant health and safety legislation and industry best practice. We aim to prevent injury and ill health, protect property, and continually improve our health and safety performance.

Management Responsibilities and Commitment

The management of South Lambeth Removals has overall responsibility for ensuring that this Health and Safety Policy is implemented, maintained and reviewed regularly. We will provide appropriate resources, information, instruction, training and supervision to support safe working practices throughout our removal services.

Managers and supervisors are responsible for:

Ensuring that health and safety procedures are followed by all staff and contractors engaged in packing, lifting, loading, driving and unloading activities.

Conducting and reviewing risk assessments and method statements for removal work, including complex moves, heavy items and restricted access locations.

Making sure that all vehicles, lifting equipment and tools are properly maintained and suitable for their intended use.

Investigating accidents, incidents and near misses to identify causes and implement corrective actions.

Employee Responsibilities

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

Follow the companys safety procedures, instructions and training at all times.

Use the correct personal protective equipment provided for tasks such as lifting, handling awkward loads and working in confined spaces.

Report any accidents, near misses, unsafe conditions or equipment defects immediately to a supervisor or manager.

Cooperate with management in implementing health and safety measures, including attending training sessions and safety briefings.

Refrain from horseplay, unsafe behaviour or working under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Before each move, South Lambeth Removals will assess the risks associated with the property, access routes, objects to be moved, parking arrangements and any special requirements. These assessments inform our planning and the methods used for packing, handling and transportation.

We will:

Identify potential hazards such as narrow staircases, heavy or fragile items, long carrying distances, traffic risks and environmental conditions.

Plan appropriate control measures, including the correct number of staff, suitable equipment, safe lifting techniques and safe vehicle positioning.

Review and update risk assessments when there are changes in working practices, equipment or legislation, or following incidents.

Safe Handling, Lifting and Packing

Manual handling is a core part of removal work, and poor technique can result in serious injury. South Lambeth Removals promotes safe handling through training, supervision and the use of appropriate equipment such as trolleys, dollies, straps and protective covers.

We ensure that:

All staff receive manual handling training, including correct lifting posture, team lifting and recognising loads that require mechanical assistance.

Heavy or bulky items are handled by sufficient staff and, where necessary, specialist equipment is used.

Items are packed securely to minimise movement during transit and to reduce the risk of slips, trips and falls during loading and unloading.

Work areas are kept clear of obstructions, packing materials and waste to maintain safe access and egress.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Our removal vehicles are essential to our work and must be operated safely at all times. South Lambeth Removals is committed to maintaining high driving standards and vehicle safety to protect our staff, customers and other road users.

We will:

Ensure all drivers hold the appropriate valid licence and are competent to drive the vehicles they are assigned.

Maintain vehicles in roadworthy condition through regular inspections, servicing and prompt repair of any defects.

Secure all loads correctly to prevent movement, damage and hazards during transit.

Plan routes with consideration for road conditions, access limitations and safe parking for loading and unloading.

Encourage safe driving practices, adherence to speed limits and compliance with road traffic regulations.

Customer and Public Safety

During removals, our teams often work in and around occupied properties, shared spaces and public roads. South Lambeth Removals takes care to minimise disruption and protect the safety of customers, neighbours and passers-by.

We will:

Agree access routes and parking arrangements with customers where possible, ensuring safe loading and unloading areas.

Use warning signs or cones where appropriate to alert others to our work and reduce the risk of accidents.

Control access to areas where lifting, carrying or vehicle manoeuvring is taking place, especially where children or vulnerable persons may be present.

Handle customer belongings with care, avoiding damage to property and fixtures that could create hazards.

Training, Information and Supervision

South Lambeth Removals provides ongoing health and safety training relevant to removal work, including induction training for new staff and refresher training for existing employees. Training covers manual handling, use of equipment, safe vehicle operation, hazard awareness and emergency procedures.

Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for ensuring that staff understand and apply their training on site. Additional instructions and safety briefings may be given before complex or high-risk moves.

Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, injuries, near misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported as soon as possible to a manager or supervisor. South Lambeth Removals will record, investigate and, where required, report incidents in line with legal requirements and internal procedures.

We ensure that:

First aid equipment is available and that trained first aiders are accessible during working hours.

Staff are aware of emergency procedures, including what to do in the event of fire, serious injury, traffic incidents or property damage during a move.

Emergency contact arrangements are in place for escalation where necessary.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

South Lambeth Removals regularly monitors and reviews its health and safety performance to identify trends, learn from experience and drive improvement. This includes:

Reviewing risk assessments, working methods and training needs.

Inspecting vehicles, equipment and work practices to ensure compliance with this policy.

Considering feedback from employees and customers about safety issues encountered during removal work.

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed periodically and updated as required to reflect changes in legislation, industry standards and our own operations. It applies to all employees and contractors engaged by South Lambeth Removals and is made available to customers on request.