This Health and Safety Policy sets out our commitment to providing a safe and healthy working environment for employees, contractors, clients and members of the public in connection with our removals operations in Acton and surrounding areas. Management recognises its legal and moral responsibilities and aims to integrate health and safety into every stage of planning and delivering removal services.
Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health, damage to property and harm to the environment arising from removal activities. We strive to identify and control risks associated with lifting and carrying, vehicle movements, working in clients premises, use of equipment, and any related storage or packing tasks. Continuous improvement is central to this policy, and we review our arrangements regularly to keep them effective and relevant.
We are committed to complying with applicable health and safety legislation and recognised industry best practice, and to ensuring that our procedures are suitable for the type of household and commercial removals work we undertake in and around Acton.
Senior management has overall responsibility for health and safety performance. This includes setting clear standards, providing adequate resources, and ensuring that competent persons are appointed to advise on health and safety matters. Managers and supervisors must ensure that staff follow this policy, implement risk control measures, use equipment correctly and report any safety concerns without delay.
Management will regularly monitor working practices, investigate accidents and near misses, and take corrective action where weaknesses are identified. Health and safety performance is considered alongside other business objectives to ensure a balanced approach to operational management.
All employees, whether full-time, part-time or temporary, share responsibility for maintaining a safe working environment. Staff 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. This includes co-operating with managers, attending training, following safe systems of work and using protective equipment as instructed.
Employees must not engage in horseplay or unsafe behaviour, and they must immediately report any hazard, defect, accident or near miss to their supervisor. Any concerns around safety at client sites or during transport must be raised promptly so that appropriate action can be taken.
We carry out risk assessments for core removal tasks, including manual handling of furniture and boxes, loading and unloading vehicles, working on stairs or in confined spaces, and operating in public or shared areas. These assessments guide the development of safe systems of work that are communicated to all relevant staff.
Before each removal job, staff are expected to review the characteristics of the premises, vehicle access, parking, and any known hazards. Where conditions differ from those anticipated, the team leader must pause work, reassess the risks and adapt the method of working to maintain safety. Work must not proceed if a serious risk to health and safety cannot be adequately controlled.
Manual handling is a key element of removal work and represents a significant potential source of injury. We therefore place strong emphasis on reducing manual handling risks. Wherever reasonably practicable, we use handling aids such as sack trucks, dollies, lifting straps and ramps to minimise physical strain. Loads are assessed for weight, shape, stability and route before lifting.
Employees are trained in correct lifting techniques, team lifting and the safe positioning of loads in vehicles and storage areas. Damaged or defective equipment must not be used and must be reported immediately. Only trained and authorised staff are permitted to use specialist equipment, and all equipment is inspected and maintained at suitable intervals.
Vehicles used for removal services must be safe, roadworthy and suitable for the loads being carried. Regular checks and servicing are carried out in line with manufacturer guidance and legal requirements. Drivers must hold the appropriate licence and follow all traffic regulations, including speed limits and parking restrictions.
Loads must be secured to prevent movement during transit. Drivers and porters must use safe access points when entering or exiting vehicles and avoid jumping from the back of vans or tail lifts. Reversing manoeuvres should, where possible, be assisted by a banksman and carried out slowly, with particular care taken in residential streets and busy local areas.
When working in homes, offices or other premises, staff must respect the property and safety of clients and third parties. Walkways must be kept as clear as reasonably practicable, and trip hazards such as trailing straps, ramps or packaging materials should be minimised. Floor protection, corner guards and similar measures may be used where necessary to protect surfaces while also providing safe footing.
Where access involves stairs, narrow corridors or uneven surfaces, additional care is taken to plan routes, agree clear communication between team members and, if necessary, reduce load size or frequency of trips. Any pre-existing damage or hazards at the property should be noted and, where relevant, brought to the client’s attention.
We provide appropriate induction and ongoing training to all staff involved in removal work. Training topics include manual handling, use of handling equipment, vehicle safety, hazard awareness, incident reporting and emergency procedures. Refresher training is provided periodically and whenever working methods or equipment change.
Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for ensuring that less experienced staff are properly guided and monitored, particularly on complex or higher risk jobs. Instructions must be clear and practical, and staff are encouraged to ask questions if they are unsure about any aspect of the work.
Where risks cannot be fully controlled by other means, personal protective equipment may be provided, such as gloves, high-visibility clothing or safety footwear. Staff must use this equipment as instructed and take reasonable care of it. Defective or damaged items must be reported and replaced promptly.
All accidents, injuries, near misses and hazardous occurrences must be reported as soon as practicable and recorded. This information is used to investigate root causes and to improve systems and training. Where necessary, relevant incidents will be reported to the appropriate authorities, in line with legal requirements.
Employees receive guidance on what to do in the event of fire, serious injury, road traffic collision or other emergencies encountered during removal work. This includes raising the alarm, contacting emergency services, using basic first aid techniques where trained to do so, and securing the scene to prevent further harm.
This Health and Safety Policy is communicated to all employees and is available to clients and interested parties on request. Management will review the policy at regular intervals, or following significant changes in operations or legislation, to ensure that it remains current and effective for the type of removal services provided in the Acton area.
All staff and contractors are expected to co-operate fully in the implementation of this policy so that, together, we can maintain a safe and healthy environment for everyone involved in our removals activities.
Unlike many of the removal companies Acton, we don’t charge our clients over the odds for our services and like to keep our prices as reasonable as it possible.
| Transit Van | 1 Man | 2 Men |
| Per hour /Min 2 hrs/ | from £60 | from £84 |
| Per half day /Up to 4 hrs/ | from £240 | from £336 |
| Per day /Up to 8 hrs/ | from £480 | from £672 |
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