Barking Removals Health and Safety Policy

Barking Removals 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 removals and related services. We recognise that high standards of health and safety are essential to the efficient delivery of home and office removals, packing, loading, transport and storage activities.

This policy sets out our objectives, responsibilities and safe working practices. It applies to all staff, whether permanent or temporary, and to all locations where Barking Removals operates, including customer premises, vehicles, storage areas and offices.

Health and Safety Objectives

Our objectives are to:

Identify, assess and control risks associated with removals and related activities.

Prevent accidents, work related ill health and damage to property.

Provide safe systems of work, safe handling and use of equipment and safe workplaces.

Ensure employees are competent, adequately trained and supervised in all aspects of their roles.

Promote a positive safety culture where everyone takes responsibility for their own safety and that of others.

Continuously improve our health and safety performance through regular review and monitoring.

Management Responsibilities

Senior management at Barking Removals has overall responsibility for implementing and maintaining this Health and Safety Policy. Management will:

Set clear standards and expectations for safe working practices in all removal and moving services.

Ensure that risk assessments are carried out and kept up to date for tasks such as lifting, carrying, vehicle loading, driving and working at customers premises.

Provide appropriate resources, equipment and training to enable employees to work safely.

Investigate accidents, incidents and near misses to identify root causes and prevent recurrence.

Consult with employees on matters affecting their health, safety and welfare.

Review this policy at regular intervals and whenever there are significant changes to our operations.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees of Barking Removals share responsibility for maintaining a safe working environment. Employees are required to:

Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions.

Follow all safety instructions, procedures and training provided by the company.

Use vehicles, equipment, tools and personal protective equipment correctly and report any defects immediately.

Not misuse or interfere with anything provided for health and safety purposes.

Report all accidents, incidents, near misses and hazards to their supervisor without delay.

Cooperate fully with management in the implementation and improvement of this policy.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Barking Removals will undertake risk assessments for key activities including but not limited to manual handling, use of lifting aids, vehicle movements, loading and unloading, working in confined spaces, working at height for certain access situations and packing or unpacking at customer premises.

From these assessments, safe systems of work will be developed and communicated to all relevant staff. These may cover:

Planning each move, including access routes, parking and loading arrangements.

Correct lifting and carrying techniques to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries.

Safe use of trolleys, dollies, ramps and other handling equipment.

Secure packing, stacking and strapping of goods in vehicles to prevent movement during transit.

Procedures for handling heavy, bulky, fragile or high value items.

Housekeeping standards to keep work areas, vehicles and storage spaces clear of trip and slip hazards.

Training and Competence

Barking Removals will provide appropriate health and safety training for all employees according to their roles and responsibilities. This may include:

Induction training for new staff, including company health and safety rules and reporting procedures.

Manual handling training for all team members involved in lifting and moving items.

Driver training focused on safe driving, loading, securing loads and working safely at the roadside and at customer sites.

Task specific training for the use of any specialised equipment or vehicles.

Refresher training as required to maintain competence and awareness of safe working practices.

Vehicles, Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment

All vehicles and equipment used by Barking Removals will be maintained in a safe and serviceable condition. Regular inspections and servicing will be carried out in line with legal requirements and manufacturer recommendations.

Where personal protective equipment is identified as necessary by risk assessment, such as safety footwear, gloves or high visibility clothing, it will be provided and employees will be expected to wear and look after it in accordance with instructions.

Welfare, Wellbeing and Occupational Health

Barking Removals recognises the importance of employee wellbeing in maintaining safe operations. We will provide adequate welfare facilities where reasonably practicable and will take steps to manage fatigue, stress and other factors that could affect safe performance of removal activities.

Where necessary, we will seek professional occupational health advice to support employees and to ensure that fitness for work is managed responsibly, particularly for driving and physically demanding tasks.

Emergency Procedures and Incident Reporting

Emergency procedures will be in place for foreseeable situations such as fire, accidents, vehicle collisions and injuries at work. Employees will be made aware of these procedures and their roles within them.

All accidents, incidents and near misses must be reported promptly so that appropriate action can be taken. Barking Removals will record and investigate these events to learn from them and apply corrective measures where needed.

Policy Review

This Health and Safety Policy reflects the commitment of Barking Removals to protect everyone involved in or affected by our removals services. The policy will be reviewed regularly to ensure it remains current, effective and appropriate to the scale and nature of our operations. Any updates will be communicated to employees and implemented as part of our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement in health and safety performance.