Health and Safety policy
Streatham Movers Health and Safety Policy
Streatham Movers 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 removal and relocation activities. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety across our operations, including home and office moves, packing services, loading and unloading, transport and storage handling.
Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health and damage to property by identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing effective control measures appropriate to the removal industry. Health and safety is an integral part of how we plan and deliver every move.
Management Responsibilities and Commitment
Senior management at Streatham Movers accepts overall responsibility for health and safety performance within the company. Management will provide leadership, allocate suitable resources and ensure that health and safety considerations are embedded in all business decisions related to removals, transport and storage activities.
We will regularly review this policy to ensure it remains effective, relevant to our services and compliant with applicable health and safety legislation and industry best practice. Where improvements are identified, we will take prompt action to implement them and communicate any changes to our team.
Employee Responsibilities and Consultation
Every employee has a duty 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 colleagues, customers, visitors and members of the public in the vicinity of our work.
Employees must follow all safety instructions, use equipment correctly, wear appropriate personal protective equipment, report hazards or incidents promptly and co operate with management in implementing this policy. We encourage open communication and consultation with staff on health and safety matters, including suggestions for improving safe working practices during moves.
Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices
Streatham Movers will carry out suitable and sufficient risk assessments for our activities, including packing, lifting, carrying, loading, unloading, driving and working in customers premises. These assessments will consider risks such as manual handling injuries, trips and falls, vehicle movements, working in confined or cluttered spaces and handling fragile or heavy items.
Based on these assessments, we will develop safe systems of work and method statements appropriate to removal operations. These will be communicated to employees and, where relevant, to customers so that everyone understands their role in maintaining a safe environment.
Manual Handling and Lifting
Manual handling is a core part of removal work and is a significant potential source of injury if not managed correctly. Streatham Movers will minimise manual handling risks by planning moves carefully, using appropriate lifting aids and ensuring that loads are kept to manageable weights.
All staff involved in lifting and carrying will receive training in safe manual handling techniques, including correct posture, team lifting, assessing loads, recognising limitations and using suitable equipment such as trolleys and lifting straps. Employees must not attempt to lift or carry items that they believe to be unsafe or beyond their capability.
Use of Equipment and Vehicles
All tools, lifting equipment, protective gear and vehicles used by Streatham Movers will be maintained in a safe and serviceable condition. Regular inspections will be carried out and any defects will be reported immediately and taken out of use until repaired or replaced.
Only authorised and trained employees are permitted to operate vehicles and specialist equipment. Drivers are responsible for the safe loading, securing and unloading of vehicles, as well as for driving in a safe and considerate manner. Vehicle loads will be planned and distributed to ensure stability, prevent shifting during transit and comply with weight limits.
Customer Premises and Public Safety
Our teams often work within customer homes, offices and shared public spaces such as pavements, car parks and communal entrances. We will take reasonable steps to protect the safety of customers, their families, employees, visitors and the general public while we carry out our work.
This includes keeping pathways clear where reasonably practicable, using warning signs or verbal warnings when necessary, controlling vehicle movements in busy or restricted areas, and managing cables, ramps and equipment to reduce trip and collision risks.
Training, Information and Supervision
Streatham Movers will provide appropriate health and safety training, instruction and supervision to ensure that employees are competent to perform their duties safely. Training will cover topics such as induction to company procedures, manual handling, safe use of equipment, vehicle safety, incident reporting and working at customer sites.
Supervisors and team leaders will monitor work on site, provide guidance and address unsafe behaviour or conditions. Where new equipment, procedures or services are introduced, additional training will be provided as required.
Personal Protective Equipment
Where risks cannot be eliminated or adequately controlled by other means, suitable personal protective equipment will be provided and used. This may include safety footwear, gloves, high visibility clothing and other items appropriate to specific tasks and environments.
Employees are responsible for using the equipment provided, looking after it properly and reporting any loss or damage so that replacements can be arranged promptly.
Incident Reporting and Investigation
All accidents, injuries, near misses and dangerous occurrences, however minor, must be reported to management as soon as possible. Streatham Movers will record and, where necessary, investigate all such incidents to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.
Learning from incidents is an important part of our commitment to continual improvement. Where appropriate, findings will be shared with employees so that similar events can be prevented in future.
Health, Wellbeing and Fitness for Work
The physical demands of removal work require that employees are fit for duty and able to carry out tasks safely. Staff must not present for work under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs or any substance that impairs their ability to work safely, including certain medications.
We support a culture in which employees can raise concerns about health, fatigue or stress that may affect their performance. Where required, duties may be adjusted temporarily to protect the health and safety of individuals and their colleagues.
Policy Review and Continuous Improvement
This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed periodically and whenever significant changes occur in our operations, equipment or legal requirements. Streatham Movers is committed to continuous improvement and aims to enhance our safety performance over time through monitoring, training, feedback and the adoption of best practice within the removals sector.
By working together and following this policy, we aim to ensure that every move is carried out safely, responsibly and with due care for everyone affected by our activities.
