Health and Safety Policy for Removals Marylebone
Removals Marylebone is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for our employees, customers, visitors, and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and relocation activities. This Health and Safety policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with domestic and commercial moves, packing, loading, transportation, and unloading of goods.
Our Health and Safety Objectives
Our primary objectives are to prevent injury and ill health, protect property, and maintain safe working practices during all removal operations. We aim to continually improve our health and safety performance by reviewing our procedures, learning from experience, and complying with relevant health and safety legislation and guidance applicable to our industry.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management at Removals Marylebone holds overall responsibility for ensuring that effective health and safety arrangements are in place and properly implemented. Management will:
Provide appropriate resources to manage health and safety, including equipment, training, and supervision.
Ensure that risk assessments are carried out for key activities, such as lifting and carrying, vehicle loading, driving, and work in and around client premises.
Maintain safe systems of work and communicate these clearly to employees.
Review this policy periodically and update it to reflect changes in operations, legislation, or best practice.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees of Removals Marylebone share responsibility for maintaining safe working practices. Every member of staff is required to:
Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.
Follow all safety procedures, instructions, and training provided by the company.
Use equipment, vehicles, and personal protective equipment in accordance with training and manufacturer guidance.
Report any hazards, near misses, accidents, damaged equipment, or unsafe conditions to a supervisor as soon as possible.
Cooperate fully with accident investigations and health and safety initiatives.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
Removals Marylebone undertakes risk assessments for all significant tasks involved in our removal services. These assessments consider manual handling, access routes, working at height, confined spaces, traffic management, and other site-specific hazards. Based on these assessments, we implement safe systems of work that may include:
Planning moves to minimise manual handling and awkward carrying distances.
Using appropriate lifting and moving aids where practical.
Ensuring sufficient staffing levels for heavy or bulky items.
Establishing safe walkways and loading areas around our vehicles.
Coordinating with clients or building managers where additional permissions or controls are required.
Training and Competence
We recognise that competent, well-trained staff are essential to safe removal operations. Removals Marylebone provides training appropriate to each role, which may include:
Induction training on company health and safety procedures and emergency arrangements.
Manual handling training, focusing on correct lifting techniques, team lifts, and use of lifting aids.
Safe use of removal equipment, including trolleys, ramps, webbing, and protective coverings.
Defensive driving and safe loading training for drivers and crew members involved in vehicle operations.
Ongoing toolbox talks and refresher sessions to maintain awareness and reinforce safe practices.
Manual Handling and Safe Lifting
Manual handling is a key risk in the removals sector. To reduce the risk of injury, we:
Plan work to avoid unnecessary lifting and carrying wherever possible.
Encourage team lifting for heavy, large, or awkward items.
Instruct staff to assess the weight, shape, and route before lifting any item.
Provide handling equipment such as dollies, sack trucks, and sliders where it is safe and practical to use them.
Require employees to stop and seek assistance if an item is too heavy or unstable to move safely.
Vehicles, Driving, and Road Safety
Our vehicles are central to our work and must be operated safely at all times. Removals Marylebone will:
Ensure vehicles are regularly inspected, maintained, and kept in roadworthy condition.
Provide guidance to drivers on safe driving practices, journey planning, and load security.
Require that loads are distributed evenly, properly secured, and within safe weight limits.
Expect drivers to comply with road traffic laws and drive in a considerate manner, especially in residential and busy urban areas.
Investigate vehicle incidents and use findings to improve safety performance.
Working Safely at Client Premises
Our teams frequently work inside homes, offices, and shared buildings. To protect everyone present, we:
Assess access routes, stairways, lifts, and loading areas before work starts.
Take steps to prevent trips and falls, including managing trailing leads, packing materials, and tools.
Use protective coverings where appropriate to reduce slip risks and protect surfaces.
Consider vulnerable persons, such as children, older people, or pets, and request that they are kept clear of active work areas.
Maintain professional conduct, minimise noise where reasonably practicable, and leave work areas tidy and free from obstructions.
Use of Personal Protective Equipment
Where risks cannot be eliminated by other means, Removals Marylebone supplies appropriate personal protective equipment. This may include safety footwear, gloves, high visibility clothing, and other items as required. Employees must use such equipment correctly, keep it in good condition, and report any defects.
Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures
All accidents, incidents, and near misses must be reported promptly to a manager or supervisor. Removals Marylebone will:
Record and investigate incidents to identify causes and prevent recurrence.
Ensure that findings and lessons learned are communicated to relevant staff.
Maintain suitable emergency arrangements, including first aid provision and procedures for fire, spills, or other emergencies affecting our work.
Client Cooperation and Responsibilities
Safety is a shared responsibility. We ask clients to support our health and safety measures by:
Providing accurate information about access, parking, and any known hazards at the property or site.
Ensuring that access routes, corridors, and stairways are reasonably clear before our team arrives.
Following any reasonable safety instructions given by our crew during the move.
Policy Review
This Health and Safety policy is reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes in our operations or applicable legislation. Removals Marylebone is committed to continual improvement and welcomes constructive feedback from employees and customers on how we can further enhance safety during our removal services.
