Southwark Removals Health and Safety Policy

Southwark Removals is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, contractors, customers, and members of the public affected by our activities. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety risks in all removal, packing, transportation, storage, and related services.

Policy Aims and Objectives

Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health, and damage to property by identifying, assessing, and controlling risks associated with our operations. We will comply with applicable health and safety legislation and recognised best practice, and continually improve our standards through monitoring and review.

Management Responsibilities

Senior management is responsible for ensuring that effective arrangements, resources, and systems are in place to implement this policy. This includes:

Ensuring that health and safety considerations are fully integrated into business planning and decision-making. Providing appropriate equipment, vehicles, and tools that are maintained in a safe condition. Ensuring that risk assessments and method statements are prepared, implemented, and reviewed for key tasks such as lifting, carrying, loading, driving, and storage operations. Appointing competent persons to advise on health and safety matters and to support ongoing compliance.

Employee Responsibilities

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 or omissions. Employees are expected to:

Follow company safety procedures, training, and instructions at all times. Use equipment, vehicles, and personal protective equipment correctly and report defects immediately. Report all accidents, near-misses, unsafe conditions, and health concerns to their manager without delay. Co-operate with management in implementing this policy and all related safe systems of work.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Southwark Removals will carry out and maintain risk assessments for all significant hazards arising from our removal and transport activities. These assessments will cover, where relevant:

Manual handling of furniture and belongings. Use of trolleys, lifting aids, and other equipment. Loading and unloading vehicles. Working in and around customer premises, including stairs, narrow access routes, and shared areas. Driving and vehicle movements. Working in storage facilities and warehouses. Environmental conditions such as weather, lighting, and access surfaces.

Based on these assessments, we will develop and implement safe systems of work and communicate them clearly to all affected staff.

Manual Handling and Use of Equipment

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

Provide training in safe lifting and carrying techniques, team lifting, and the use of mechanical aids. Plan jobs to minimise unnecessary lifting and carrying, including appropriate vehicle positioning. Provide and maintain handling equipment such as sack barrows, dollies, and straps where appropriate. Ensure that loads are assessed for weight, stability, and shape before they are moved.

Vehicle and Driving Safety

The safe operation of our vehicles is essential to protecting our drivers, passengers, customers, and other road users. We will:

Ensure that all drivers are competent and appropriately licensed. Maintain vehicles regularly and keep records of inspections and repairs. Require pre-use checks of vehicles and report any defects immediately. Plan routes, schedules, and workloads to reduce driver fatigue. Ensure that loads are evenly distributed, properly secured, and do not exceed vehicle capacity.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

Our teams frequently work at customer homes, business properties, and shared spaces. We will take reasonable steps to protect customers, visitors, and the public by:

Assessing access routes, stairs, lifts, and parking arrangements before or on arrival. Using safe lifting techniques in confined spaces and on stairways. Placing equipment, ramps, and protective coverings so as not to create trip or slip hazards. Keeping work areas as clear and organised as reasonably practicable. Communicating with customers about any temporary restrictions or hazards created by our work.

Training, Information, and Supervision

Southwark Removals will provide suitable and sufficient health and safety training and information to all employees appropriate to their role. This includes:

Induction training for new starters. Task-specific training for removal operatives, drivers, and supervisors. Refresher training to maintain safe working practices. Communication of updates to procedures, risk assessments, and legal requirements.

Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for monitoring day-to-day safety performance, correcting unsafe practices, and providing guidance on site.

Accident, Incident, and Near-Miss Reporting

All accidents, incidents, and near-misses must be reported promptly so that they can be investigated, lessons learned, and corrective actions taken. Where required by law, incidents will be reported to the relevant authorities. Records will be kept to help identify trends and inform improvements to our systems of work.

Occupational Health and Welfare

We recognise the physical and mental demands of removal work and aim to support the health and wellbeing of our employees by:

Encouraging early reporting of injuries, strains, or health concerns related to work. Considering fitness for work in task allocation where practicable. Managing workloads and schedules to reduce excessive physical strain and fatigue. Promoting a culture where staff can raise concerns about stress, workload, or working conditions.

Consultation and Communication

Southwark Removals will consult with employees on health and safety matters and encourage feedback on how risks can be reduced. We will communicate this policy and any updates to all employees and make it available to customers and other interested parties on request.

Monitoring, Review, and Continuous Improvement

Compliance with this policy will be monitored through supervision, inspections, audits, and review of incident data. The policy and associated procedures will be reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes in our activities, legislation, or identified risks.

Senior management is responsible for ensuring that this policy remains appropriate to the nature and scale of Southwark Removals operations and that it is effectively implemented throughout the business.

Approval and Implementation

This Health and Safety Policy is approved by the company leadership and applies to all employees and contractors working on behalf of Southwark Removals. All staff are required to familiarise themselves with its contents and follow the procedures set out to maintain a safe working environment for everyone.