Greenwich Removals Health And Safety Policy

At Greenwich Removals, we are committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, customers, contractors, and the wider public. This Health and Safety policy sets out the principles and arrangements we follow to manage risk and protect everyone involved in or affected by our removal and relocation services.

Our Health And Safety Commitments

We recognise that the nature of removal work involves manual handling, vehicle use, working in and around domestic and commercial properties, and occasional work in challenging environments. To manage these risks, Greenwich Removals will:

Identify, assess, and control hazards associated with removal and storage activities.

Comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and recognised industry standards.

Provide appropriate information, instruction, training, and supervision to employees.

Maintain safe systems of work, including risk assessments and method statements for key activities.

Ensure safe use and maintenance of vehicles, equipment, and protective gear.

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

Review this policy regularly and improve our practices where necessary.

Responsibilities For Health And Safety

Health and safety is a shared responsibility across the company.

Management responsibilities:

Demonstrate visible leadership and commitment to safe working practices.

Ensure risk assessments are in place, up to date, and communicated to relevant staff.

Provide resources for training, equipment, and maintenance relating to health and safety.

Investigate incidents, near misses, and complaints, and implement corrective actions.

Monitor compliance through spot checks, audits, and performance reviews.

Employee responsibilities:

Take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their work.

Follow company procedures, safe systems of work, and any safety instructions received.

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

Report accidents, near misses, hazards, or unsafe conditions without delay.

Cooperate with management to enable the company to meet its legal and policy obligations.

Risk Assessment And Safe Working Practices

Before starting work, we assess the risks associated with each job, including access issues, lifting requirements, and any specific customer or property considerations. As part of this process we:

Identify hazards such as heavy or awkward loads, trip hazards, poor lighting, restricted access, and weather-related risks.

Evaluate the likelihood and potential severity of harm.

Implement control measures such as using additional staff, mechanical aids, or alternative routes.

Record significant findings where required and communicate them to the removal team.

Review risk assessments when circumstances change or after incidents.

Safe systems of work include agreed methods for loading and unloading vehicles, working inside customer premises, securing loads, and operating in shared or public spaces.

Manual Handling And Use Of Equipment

Manual handling is a core aspect of removal work and is a key focus of our safety arrangements. Greenwich Removals ensures that:

Employees receive training in safe lifting techniques, team lifts, and the use of equipment such as trolleys, dollies, and ramps.

Loads are assessed for weight, size, and shape before handling and are broken down into smaller units where possible.

Heavy or bulky items are moved by teams rather than individuals wherever needed.

Appropriate equipment is used to reduce strain and avoid injury.

Staff recognise and respect their own physical limits and are encouraged to request assistance.

All equipment is inspected regularly, maintained in safe condition, and replaced when necessary.

Vehicles And Driving Safety

Our vehicles are essential to our services and must be operated safely at all times. Greenwich Removals will:

Ensure drivers are competent, appropriately licensed, and familiar with the vehicles they operate.

Carry out regular checks and servicing of vehicles to maintain roadworthiness and safety.

Require drivers to conduct pre use checks and report defects immediately.

Plan routes to allow sufficient time, taking into account traffic, loading restrictions, and local conditions.

Ensure loads are distributed evenly and secured correctly to prevent movement during transit.

Discourage unsafe driving practices, including excessive speed, mobile phone use while driving, or driving while fatigued.

Customer Premises And Public Safety

Our teams work inside homes, offices, and shared spaces, often in busy or confined environments. To protect customers and the public, we:

Take care to minimise disruption and prevent access to hazardous areas during loading and unloading.

Use warning signs or verbal communication where work may affect access routes or shared areas.

Manage trip hazards such as packing materials, tools, and equipment by keeping work areas tidy.

Handle customer property with care to avoid damage and reduce the risk of injury.

Respect any specific safety rules that apply at customer sites, such as building regulations or site induction requirements.

Training, Information, And Supervision

Greenwich Removals provides ongoing health and safety training and supervision appropriate to each role. This includes:

Induction training for new starters, covering key hazards, procedures, and reporting lines.

Manual handling training, including refresher sessions where appropriate.

Training in the safe use of removal equipment and vehicles.

Briefings on specific job risks and control measures before complex or unusual moves.

Supervision by experienced team leaders, especially where newer or less experienced staff are involved.

Accident Reporting And Incident Investigation

All accidents, incidents, and near misses must be reported so that we can learn from them and prevent recurrence. We will:

Encourage prompt and accurate reporting by all employees.

Record details of incidents and maintain appropriate documentation.

Investigate the circumstances, identify root causes, and take corrective action.

Review procedures and training where incidents highlight areas for improvement.

Health, Welfare, And Wellbeing

We recognise that the work we do can be physically demanding and occasionally stressful. Greenwich Removals aims to support the health and wellbeing of employees by:

Encouraging sensible work planning, breaks, and rest periods.

Promoting safe lifting limits and realistic workloads.

Discouraging working practices that could lead to fatigue or injury.

Offering guidance on reporting any health issues that could affect safe working.

Policy Review

This Health and Safety policy is reviewed regularly and updated as necessary to reflect changes in legislation, best practice, and the nature of our services. All employees are expected to familiarise themselves with the current version and to follow its requirements at all times.