Removals Enfield Health and Safety Policy
This Health and Safety policy sets out the principles and procedures followed by Removals Enfield to protect the health, safety and welfare of our employees, contractors, customers and members of the public. Our work involves lifting, carrying, loading, transportation and unloading of household and commercial goods, and we are committed to managing these activities safely at all times.
Our Health and Safety Objectives
Removals Enfield aims to prevent accidents, injuries and work-related ill health through effective planning, supervision and control of our removal operations. We will provide and maintain safe systems of work, ensure that vehicles and equipment are safe and properly maintained, and create safe working environments at properties, storage locations and during transit. We will review and improve our arrangements regularly to reflect changes in legislation, industry guidance and our own operational experience.
Management Responsibilities
The management of Removals Enfield has overall responsibility for implementing this policy and ensuring that appropriate resources are made available to support it. Management duties include setting clear health and safety standards, communicating them to all staff, arranging suitable training and instruction, providing appropriate equipment, and monitoring performance. Managers will make sure that risk assessments are carried out, documented where required, and that resulting control measures are implemented and maintained.
Employee Responsibilities
Every employee of Removals Enfield has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their work. Staff must follow all safety instructions, use equipment properly, report defects or hazards, and co-operate with management on health and safety matters. Employees are expected to use correct manual handling techniques, wear any required personal protective equipment, and refrain from any behaviour that could endanger themselves, colleagues, customers or the public.
Risk Assessment and Planning
Before each removal project, we assess the risks associated with the properties, access routes, items to be moved and transport requirements. This includes consideration of stairs, narrow corridors, lifts, parking, traffic conditions and any fragile or unusually heavy items. Where necessary, we will plan additional control measures, such as using extra staff, specialist lifting equipment or alternative access routes. Our team leaders are responsible for reviewing site conditions on arrival and adjusting the plan if any new hazards are identified.
Safe Manual Handling and Lifting
Manual handling is a core part of removal work, and we place particular emphasis on safe lifting techniques. All relevant staff receive instruction on assessing load weight, team lifting, keeping loads close to the body, maintaining good posture and avoiding sudden or twisting movements. Where items are too heavy or awkward to move safely by hand, equipment such as trolleys, dollies, straps or protective padding will be used. No employee is required to lift or carry any item they consider unsafe, and alternative arrangements will be made.
Use of Vehicles and Equipment
Removals Enfield ensures that all vehicles used for removal services are roadworthy, appropriately maintained and suitable for the loads they carry. Drivers are trained and competent, and must comply with traffic laws and safe driving practices. Vehicles will be loaded and secured carefully to prevent movement of goods, protect property and reduce manual handling risks when unloading. All tools and lifting aids are inspected regularly and taken out of use immediately if found to be defective.
Working at Customer Premises
Our teams take care to work safely and respectfully in and around customer properties. Walkways and stairs will be kept as clear as reasonably practicable, and protective coverings may be used to prevent slips and trips on floors. Where there is limited space or shared access, we will coordinate with customers, neighbours and building managers to minimise risks. Particular attention is given to the safe movement of large furniture through doorways, hallways and stairwells to avoid injury or damage.
Public Safety and Site Security
We take reasonable steps to safeguard members of the public during our removal operations. This may involve positioning vehicles to reduce traffic risks, controlling access to loading areas, using clear verbal communication and ensuring that equipment and loose items are not left where they could cause trips or falls. When working on streets or shared access roads, we will maintain awareness of passing pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles and adjust our activities to keep everyone safe.
Training, Information and Supervision
Removals Enfield provides employees with appropriate health and safety training, including induction for new starters and refresher instruction when required. Training covers manual handling, use of equipment, vehicle safety, hazard awareness and incident reporting. Team leaders and supervisors monitor day-to-day work to ensure that safe procedures are followed, and provide guidance and correction where necessary. Additional training will be arranged when new equipment, processes or risks are introduced.
Incident Reporting and Investigation
All accidents, near misses, injuries and dangerous occurrences must be reported to management as soon as possible. We will investigate such events to identify root causes and implement measures to prevent recurrence. Lessons learned will be shared with relevant staff and, where appropriate, reflected in updated risk assessments, training materials or working procedures.
Health, Welfare and Fitness for Work
Removal work can be physically demanding, and we encourage employees to maintain good health and fitness. Staff must not undertake removal tasks if they are unfit for work due to illness, injury, alcohol, drugs or fatigue. Adequate rest breaks will be provided, and drinking water will be made available during working days. We will consider reasonable adjustments for staff with health conditions, where this can be done safely and without risk to others.
Continuous Improvement and Policy Review
Removals Enfield is committed to ongoing improvement in health and safety performance. This policy and the arrangements that support it will be reviewed periodically, and whenever there are significant changes to our operations, applicable regulations or industry standards. Feedback from employees and customers is welcomed and will be considered as part of our review process. By working together and following this policy, we aim to deliver reliable removal services while protecting everyone involved.
