Egham Removals Health and Safety Policy

Egham Removals is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for our employees, customers, visitors and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and relocation activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with house moves, office relocations, packing, loading, transport and storage services.

We aim to prevent accidents, injuries and work-related ill health by identifying hazards, assessing risks and putting proportionate control measures in place. We will comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and approved codes of practice applicable to our operations.

Policy Scope and Objectives

This policy applies to all employees of Egham Removals, including full-time, part-time and temporary staff, as well as contractors working under our control. It covers all work carried out at customers premises, on the road and at any storage or operational facilities we manage.

Our key health and safety objectives are to:

Promote a strong safety culture where everyone takes responsibility for their own safety and the safety of others.
Provide and maintain safe systems of work for removals, including packing, lifting, loading, transport and unloading.
Minimise the risk of injury from manual handling, slips, trips, falls and vehicle movements.
Ensure that equipment, vehicles and tools are safe, well maintained and suitable for their intended use.
Provide information, instruction, training and supervision so staff can work safely and competently.

Management Responsibilities

Senior management at Egham Removals has overall responsibility for health and safety performance. Management will:

Set clear safety standards for all removal and transport activities.
Ensure that risk assessments are carried out and kept up to date for typical moving tasks and environments.
Provide appropriate resources, including time, equipment and training, to implement this policy effectively.
Regularly review incident reports, near misses and customer feedback to improve safety measures.
Monitor compliance with legal requirements and adjust working practices where necessary.

Employee Responsibilities

Every employee has an important role in maintaining safe working conditions. All staff are required to:

Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.
Follow all safety instructions, procedures and training provided by Egham Removals.
Use equipment, vehicles and protective gear correctly and report any defects immediately.
Report accidents, incidents, near misses or unsafe conditions to their supervisor without delay.
Cooperate with managers and colleagues to ensure a safe and efficient move for every customer.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Before starting any removal job, our team will consider the specific risks present at the property or site. This includes factors such as access routes, staircases, parking arrangements, weather conditions and the size and weight of items to be moved.

Where appropriate, a more detailed written risk assessment will be carried out to identify necessary control measures, such as using additional staff, equipment or alternative lifting techniques.

Safe working practices are developed and regularly reviewed for key tasks including:

Manual handling and lifting of furniture, appliances and boxes.
Packing fragile, heavy or awkward items.
Loading and unloading vehicles safely and securely.
Operating removal equipment such as trolleys and ramps.
Working in confined spaces, narrow access areas or multi-storey premises.

Manual Handling and Musculoskeletal Health

Manual handling is a significant part of our work and can present risks of strains, sprains and other musculoskeletal injuries if not managed properly. Egham Removals will:

Provide manual handling training for staff, with refresher sessions as required.
Encourage the use of team lifts for heavier or awkward items.
Supply suitable handling aids such as sack trucks, dollies and lifting straps where appropriate.
Plan moves to minimise unnecessary carrying distances, use of stairs and awkward manoeuvres.
Promote safe lifting techniques, including correct posture and avoidance of twisting while carrying loads.

Vehicle and Road Safety

Our vehicles are central to our removal services and must be operated safely at all times. Egham Removals will:

Ensure all vehicles are regularly inspected, maintained and kept roadworthy.
Require drivers to hold the appropriate licences and follow all road traffic laws.
Provide guidance on safe loading and securing of goods to prevent movement during transit.
Plan routes to minimise risks where possible and allow sufficient time for safe travel.
Discourage unsafe driving practices, including excessive speed and use of mobile devices while driving.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

We recognise that our work often takes place in occupied homes, busy streets and shared commercial spaces. To protect customers and the public, our teams will:

Maintain clear walkways where possible and highlight trip hazards such as ramps or trailing equipment.
Take care when moving large items through doorways, corridors and communal areas.
Use appropriate warnings when loading or unloading near public pathways or shared access roads.
Respect customer instructions about sensitive areas or particular household risks.

Training, Information and Supervision

All staff will receive an induction that covers the main health and safety requirements of their role. Additional training will be provided where necessary, for example for new equipment, vehicles or specialist services.

Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for ensuring that safe working practices are followed on site and that less experienced staff are supported and monitored appropriately.

Incident Reporting and Continuous Improvement

All accidents, injuries, near misses and cases of work-related ill health must be reported promptly using the companys reporting procedure. These reports will be investigated to identify root causes and any necessary corrective actions.

Egham Removals is committed to continuous improvement in health and safety performance. This policy and all related procedures will be reviewed regularly and updated when business operations, legislation or best practice guidance change.

Policy Communication and Review

This Health and Safety Policy is available to all employees and may be shared with customers and other interested parties on request. It is communicated during staff induction and reinforced through ongoing training and briefings.

Management will review this policy on a regular basis to ensure it remains suitable, adequate and effective for the nature and scale of our removal and relocation work. Any changes will be communicated to employees as soon as reasonably practicable.