Health and Safety policy
Ealing Movers Health and Safety Policy
Ealing Movers 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 activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out the principles, responsibilities, and procedures we follow to manage risks associated with packing, lifting, loading, transportation, unloading, and storage of goods.
Policy Statement and Objectives
Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health, and property damage by identifying hazards, assessing risks, and implementing appropriate control measures. Health and safety is an integral part of how Ealing Movers plans, organises, and delivers every move, from small domestic removals to larger commercial relocations and storage operations.
We will comply with relevant health and safety legislation, industry standards, and recognised good practice within the removals and logistics sector. We will continually review and improve our safety systems to reflect changes in operations, equipment, and legal requirements.
Responsibilities and Management Commitment
The management of Ealing Movers accepts overall responsibility for ensuring that effective arrangements are in place for managing health and safety. This includes providing appropriate resources, setting clear expectations, and monitoring performance.
Managers and supervisors are responsible for implementing this policy on a day-to-day basis, making sure that staff are trained and competent, that risk assessments are completed and followed, and that safe systems of work are in place and maintained.
All employees have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Employees must follow safety instructions, use equipment correctly, report hazards and incidents promptly, and cooperate fully with the company’s health and safety procedures.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
Ealing Movers will identify and assess risks associated with removal activities, including manual handling, vehicle operations, working in and around customer premises, use of equipment such as trolleys and lifting aids, and storage work.
For each task, we will develop and implement safe systems of work, which may include route planning for vehicles, safe lifting techniques, correct stacking and securing of loads, and safe access to buildings and storage areas. Staff will be briefed on site-specific risks prior to starting work at customer locations.
Risk assessments will be reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes in working practices, equipment, or locations.
Training, Information, and Competence
Ealing Movers will provide suitable and sufficient health and safety training to all staff. This includes induction training for new employees and ongoing training for existing staff to keep knowledge up to date.
Training will cover, as appropriate to the role, manual handling techniques, safe use of vehicles and equipment, working in customers’ homes and business premises, use of personal protective equipment, and emergency procedures. Only staff who are trained and deemed competent will be permitted to undertake tasks involving significant risk.
Clear information and instructions will be provided for each job, including any known hazards at the customer’s property, access issues, parking arrangements for vehicles, and any special handling requirements for items being moved.
Manual Handling and Use of Equipment
Manual handling is a core part of removal work and is a key focus of our health and safety approach. We will minimise the need for hazardous manual handling wherever reasonably practicable by using suitable mechanical aids and appropriate packing methods.
Employees will receive training in safe lifting and carrying techniques, working in teams to share loads, and recognising when a task is beyond safe limits. Trolleys, dollies, lifting straps, ramps, and other equipment will be maintained in good condition and used in accordance with instructions.
Special care will be taken when moving large, heavy, fragile, or awkward items. Routes will be checked and cleared of obstacles before moving loads, and floors, steps, and access points will be assessed for slip, trip, and fall risks.
Vehicles, Driving, and Road Safety
Our vehicles will be maintained to a high standard to ensure they are safe and roadworthy. Regular inspections and servicing will be carried out and records maintained in line with legal and company requirements.
Drivers will be appropriately licensed, trained, and competent in operating the vehicles they use. They will follow road traffic laws and drive in a manner that protects their own safety, that of colleagues, customers, and other road users.
Loads will be packed, secured, and distributed safely within vehicles to prevent movement and instability during transit. Routes will be planned to allow for safe access to customer properties, taking account of loading and parking restrictions, and minimising reversing where possible.
Customer Premises and Public Safety
When working in or around customer properties, Ealing Movers will take steps to ensure the safety of customers, visitors, neighbours, and the public. Work areas will be organised to minimise obstruction and hazards, and where appropriate, temporary barriers or warning signs will be used.
Staff will act with courtesy and care when moving items through shared areas, entrances, corridors, and stairwells, and will seek to coordinate with customers to maintain safe access routes at all times.
Personal Protective Equipment and Welfare
Where risks cannot be adequately controlled by other means, suitable personal protective equipment such as gloves, safety footwear, or high-visibility clothing will be provided. Employees must use the equipment as instructed and report any defects immediately.
Reasonable welfare facilities will be made available to staff, including opportunities for rest breaks, drinking water, and access to sanitary facilities as appropriate for the nature and duration of each job.
Accident Reporting, Investigation, and Review
All accidents, near misses, dangerous occurrences, and work-related health concerns must be reported as soon as practicable to a supervisor or manager. Ealing Movers will investigate such events to identify root causes and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
Records of incidents and investigations will be reviewed periodically to identify trends and areas for improvement. Lessons learned will be communicated to staff and incorporated into training, risk assessments, and working procedures.
This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed regularly and updated as necessary to reflect changes in operations, legislation, or best practice. The latest version will be made available to employees and customers on request.
