Health and Safety Policy for Removals Queen's Park
Removals Queen's Park is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, customers, contractors and members of the public affected by our activities. This Health and Safety policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with house moves, flat moves, office relocations, packing, loading, transport and unloading.
We recognise that removal work involves physical handling, vehicle movements, work in and around client premises and interaction with the public. We therefore prioritise careful planning, sensible risk control and ongoing staff training to minimise the likelihood of accidents, injuries and damage to property.
Our Health and Safety Commitments
Removals Queen's Park will take all reasonably practicable steps to:
Identify hazards associated with our removals operations and implement proportionate control measures.
Protect our staff, customers and the public from foreseeable risks during moves, collections and deliveries.
Provide and maintain safe vehicles, equipment and work methods.
Ensure all employees receive appropriate information, instruction and training for their roles.
Encourage a positive safety culture where staff feel able to report concerns and near misses.
Review and improve our health and safety arrangements on a regular basis.
Responsibilities for Health and Safety
Overall responsibility for health and safety within Removals Queen's Park rests with senior management, who ensure adequate resources, planning and supervision are in place.
Managers and team leaders are responsible for implementing this policy on a day-to-day basis, including briefing staff, undertaking risk assessments and monitoring safe working practices on removal jobs.
All employees, whether drivers, porters, packers or office staff, have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Staff must follow company procedures, use equipment correctly, cooperate with training, and report hazards, incidents or near misses without delay.
Risk Assessment and Planning
Before each removal project, Removals Queen's Park considers the specific risks presented by the property, access, items to be moved and any special client requirements.
Where necessary, a site assessment will be carried out to identify issues such as restricted access, stairs, narrow corridors, low ceilings, uneven surfaces, parking arrangements and potential interaction with other contractors or building users.
Findings from the assessment inform the number of staff required, the equipment to be used, vehicle positioning, manual handling methods and any need for additional control measures such as protective coverings, signage or barriers.
Manual Handling and Lifting
Manual handling is a key risk in removal operations. Removals Queen's Park manages this by:
Providing training on safe lifting techniques, team lifting, the use of handling aids and recognising personal limits.
Encouraging the use of trolleys, dollies, straps and other equipment to reduce strain.
Planning the move to minimise carrying distances and avoid unnecessary lifts.
Assessing heavy, bulky or fragile items individually to decide the safest method of movement.
Reminding staff not to attempt lifts they consider unsafe, and to request assistance or additional equipment as required.
Vehicles, Driving and Road Safety
Our vehicles are essential to the safe completion of removals work. Removals Queen's Park ensures that:
Vehicles are regularly inspected, maintained and kept roadworthy.
Loads are evenly distributed, securely fastened and within safe weight limits.
Drivers hold the correct licence, are competent to operate the vehicles assigned to them, and follow road traffic regulations.
Parking and unloading are planned to minimise risks to pedestrians, staff and other road users, taking local conditions into account.
Drivers are encouraged to take appropriate breaks and to avoid driving when tired or unwell.
Working at Customer Premises
When working in homes, offices or other premises, we take care to protect both people and property. This includes:
Using floor protection, corner guards and other measures where suitable to reduce the risk of slips and damage.
Maintaining clear walkways free of trip hazards such as straps, packing materials and tools.
Using safe methods when handling items on stairs and in tight spaces, including team lifts and clear communication between crew members.
Respecting any site-specific safety rules or access procedures requested by the customer or building management.
Ensuring that doors, gates and common areas are left in a safe condition at each stage of the move.
Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment
Removals Queen's Park provides suitable equipment to carry out removal activities safely. This may include trolleys, dollies, ramps, straps, moving blankets, and other handling aids.
Where appropriate, staff are provided with personal protective equipment such as gloves, safety footwear and high-visibility garments. Employees are required to use equipment and protective gear as instructed and to report any defects or concerns immediately.
Training, Information and Supervision
We invest in training to ensure our removal crews understand safe working practices. Training covers topics such as manual handling, vehicle safety, working at customer premises, dealing with fragile or high-value items and reporting procedures.
New employees receive induction training and work under supervision until they are deemed competent. Refresher training is provided when needed, for example when new equipment is introduced or working methods change.
Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures
All accidents, incidents, injuries and near misses must be reported to a supervisor or manager as soon as reasonably possible. This enables us to investigate what happened, provide support to anyone affected and identify improvements.
Our teams are briefed on basic emergency procedures, including what to do in the event of fire, serious injury, spillages or road traffic incidents while carrying out removals. Staff are instructed to prioritise personal safety and the safety of others before property or schedules.
Policy Review and Continuous Improvement
This Health and Safety policy is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains suitable for our removal services and the areas in which we operate. We take into account changes in legislation, industry good practice, customer feedback and any learning from incidents or near misses.
Removals Queen's Park aims to continually improve its health and safety performance and to deliver removal services that are not only efficient and reliable, but also carried out with care for the wellbeing of everyone involved.
