Edgware Removals Health and Safety Policy

Edgware 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 activities. This Health and Safety policy sets out our responsibilities and the standards we apply across all removal, packing, loading, transport, and delivery services.

We recognise that professional removals work involves manual handling, vehicle operations, and work in a variety of domestic and commercial locations. We therefore take systematic steps to identify, assess, and control risks associated with our services.

Policy Aims

The aims of this Health and Safety policy are to:

Promote a culture where health and safety is integral to all decision making and day-to-day operations. Prevent accidents, injuries, work-related ill health, and damage to property arising from our removal activities. Comply with all relevant health and safety legislation, regulations, and industry best practice. Provide clear responsibilities, training, and supervision to ensure safe working practices. Continuously improve our health and safety performance through monitoring, review, and consultation.

Management Responsibilities

Senior management at Edgware Removals holds overall responsibility for ensuring that appropriate arrangements, resources, and systems are in place to manage health and safety. This includes:

Implementing and maintaining this Health and Safety policy and related procedures. Allocating adequate time, personnel, and financial resources to manage health and safety risks. Ensuring risk assessments are completed, regularly reviewed, and communicated to affected staff. Providing appropriate equipment, vehicles, and protective measures for safe removals work. Monitoring incidents, near misses, and feedback to identify trends and implement improvements.

Managers and supervisors are responsible for day-to-day implementation of safety procedures, ensuring staff follow safe systems of work and promptly addressing any hazards or unsafe behaviour.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees, including temporary and contract workers, 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 are required to:

Follow all instructions, procedures, and training provided by Edgware Removals. Use equipment, vehicles, and personal protective equipment correctly and for their intended purpose. Report hazards, defects, near misses, and incidents as soon as practicable. Co-operate with management in meeting health and safety requirements, including attendance at training and toolbox talks. Refrain from any behaviour that could put themselves, colleagues, customers, or the public at risk.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Edgware Removals carries out risk assessments for key activities including packing, lifting, carrying, loading, unloading, driving, and working at various customer premises. These assessments are used to develop safe systems of work, which may include:

Planning removal routes and access points to minimise manual handling risks. Assessing stairways, narrow corridors, and confined spaces before moving large items. Using correct lifting techniques and mechanical aids where available. Ensuring adequate staffing levels for heavy or awkward loads. Implementing controls for work in shared spaces such as residential blocks, offices, and public areas.

Risk assessments are reviewed periodically and whenever there are significant changes to operations, equipment, or working environments.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a core part of removal work and is treated as a priority risk area. To reduce the likelihood of injury, we:

Provide manual handling training, including safe lifting, carrying, and team handling techniques. Encourage assessment of each lift before it is attempted, considering weight, shape, route, and individual capability. Use lifting aids, dollies, trolleys, straps, and other equipment where appropriate. Avoid single-person lifting of heavy, bulky, or unstable items wherever possible. Rotate tasks to reduce the risk of repetitive strain and fatigue.

Vehicle and Driving Safety

Our drivers and crews use vehicles that are regularly inspected, serviced, and maintained to a high standard. To manage road and transport risks, Edgware Removals:

Ensures all drivers hold the appropriate licence and receive relevant training. Implements checks before departure to confirm that loads are secure and evenly distributed. Plans routes with consideration for time, traffic, access restrictions, and weather conditions. Requires compliance with speed limits, driving laws, and company driving standards. Encourages regular breaks to combat fatigue and promote alertness.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

Work often takes place at customer homes, offices, and storage locations. Our crews take reasonable steps to protect customers, visitors, and members of the public by:

Maintaining clear walkways and avoiding trip hazards such as loose packing materials and trailing straps. Using safe lifting paths to prevent collisions with people, fixtures, and fittings. Being mindful of noise, access restrictions, and shared spaces such as corridors and car parks. Ensuring that doors, gates, and communal entrances are left secure after work is completed.

Training, Information, and Supervision

Edgware Removals provides information, instruction, and training relevant to each role, which may include:

Induction training covering general health and safety responsibilities. Task-specific training on packing, lifting, loading, and use of equipment. Guidance on dealing with challenging environments, such as limited access or multi-storey buildings. Ongoing refresher training and toolbox talks to reinforce safe practices.

Supervision is proportionate to the level of risk and the experience of the employees involved.

Accidents, Incidents, and Near Misses

All accidents, incidents, and near misses must be reported in line with company procedures. Edgware Removals will:

Record and investigate relevant events to identify immediate and underlying causes. Take corrective and preventive action to reduce the likelihood of recurrence. Share lessons learned with staff where appropriate. Comply with legal reporting requirements where incidents are reportable.

Consultation and Continuous Improvement

We encourage open communication on health and safety matters. Employees are invited to raise suggestions, concerns, or improvement ideas with their manager. Where practical, staff are consulted on changes that may affect their health and safety.

This policy is reviewed regularly, and updated as necessary, to reflect changes in legislation, operational practices, and industry standards. Edgware Removals is committed to continual improvement in health and safety performance throughout our service area and across all of our operations.