Fulham Removals Health and Safety Policy

Fulham Removals is committed to conducting all removal, packing, loading, transport and storage activities in a way that protects the health, safety and welfare of our employees, customers, contractors and members of the public. We recognise that professional removals work involves manual handling, driving, the use of equipment and working in varied environments, and we actively manage these risks through effective planning, supervision and training.

This policy sets out our approach to health and safety management and applies to all employees and workers engaged by Fulham Removals in all locations where we operate.

Health and Safety Objectives

Our primary objectives are to prevent injury and ill health, comply with all relevant health and safety legislation, and continually improve our health and safety performance. We aim to achieve this by identifying hazards in our removals operations, assessing the associated risks and implementing sensible and proportionate control measures.

We are committed to promoting a positive safety culture in which everyone understands their responsibilities, reports hazards and near misses, and takes personal ownership for working safely.

Management Responsibilities

The management of Fulham Removals has overall responsibility for ensuring that health and safety is properly managed throughout the business. This includes providing adequate resources to implement this policy and maintaining appropriate systems and procedures for safe working.

Managers and supervisors are required to:

Plan removals work so that hazards are identified in advance and controls are built into schedules and methods of work.

Ensure that risk assessments are completed, recorded, reviewed regularly and communicated clearly to all relevant staff.

Provide and maintain safe equipment, including vehicles, lifting aids, trolleys, ramps and protective equipment, and ensure that they are inspected and serviced as required.

Ensure that all employees receive appropriate induction, information, instruction, supervision and ongoing training relevant to their role and the equipment they use.

Monitor working practices, investigate accidents, incidents and near misses, and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

Employee Responsibilities

Every employee has an important role to play in maintaining a safe working environment. All staff engaged in removals, packing, driving and office tasks are required to:

Take reasonable care for their own health and safety and for the safety of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions.

Follow all safety procedures, safe systems of work and instructions provided by management and supervisors.

Use any equipment, tools, vehicles and personal protective equipment properly, and report defects, damage or concerns immediately.

Report all accidents, incidents, near misses and hazardous conditions as soon as reasonably practicable so that they can be investigated and rectified.

Participate in health and safety training and refresh their knowledge periodically, particularly in manual handling and safe driving.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Fulham Removals conducts risk assessments for typical removals activities, including domestic and commercial moves, packing services, storage handling and transport activities. Additional site specific assessments are carried out where necessary, for example when there are unusual access issues, long carries, restricted staircases or particularly heavy or fragile items.

Safe systems of work are developed from these assessments and cover, as a minimum, manual handling methods, lifting and team carries, the use of equipment such as dollies, sack trucks and ramps, the loading and securing of goods in vehicles, working in shared areas such as pavements and communal entrances, and the management of vehicle movements when parking and reversing.

These procedures are communicated to staff and reviewed regularly to ensure they remain suitable and effective.

Manual Handling and Use of Equipment

Manual handling is a core part of removals work and is a key focus of our health and safety arrangements. Employees receive training in safe lifting techniques, team handling, assessing the weight and stability of items and recognising when mechanical aids or additional team members are required.

Where reasonably practicable, lifting and handling tasks are reduced through the use of equipment. Carts, trolleys, barrows, skates, ramps and lifting aids are provided to assist with moving furniture, appliances and boxes safely. All such equipment is maintained in good condition and removed from service if found to be defective.

Vehicles and Driving Safety

Our vehicles are maintained to a high standard and are inspected regularly. Drivers are required to carry out pre use checks, report any defects and operate vehicles in accordance with road traffic legislation and company procedures.

Routes and schedules are planned so far as possible to minimise fatigue and allow for safe loading and unloading. Drivers and crew must take particular care when reversing, manoeuvring in residential streets, at customer premises and in busy areas, using a banksman where appropriate.

Customer, Public and Property Protection

We recognise our duty to protect customers, visitors, neighbours and the wider public when carrying out removals work. Measures are taken to reduce risks such as trip hazards from equipment and packing materials, obstruction of walkways and exits, and unsafe stacking of goods.

Where necessary, signs, cones or barriers are used to mark work areas and vehicle loading zones. Floors, stairs, lifts and entrance areas are protected where reasonably practicable to prevent damage and reduce the risk of slips. Our teams are instructed to work considerately and to maintain clear emergency access routes at all times.

Training, Information and Supervision

Fulham Removals provides appropriate health and safety training to all employees, including induction training for new starters and role specific training for porters, packers, drivers and supervisors. Refresher training is provided periodically and whenever working practices or equipment change.

Information on hazards, procedures and emergency arrangements is communicated through briefings, toolbox talks and written instructions. Supervisors monitor working practices on site, provide guidance and correct unsafe behaviour promptly.

Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, incidents and near misses must be reported so that they can be recorded, investigated and, where necessary, notified to the relevant authorities in line with statutory requirements. We analyse this information to identify trends and implement improvements to reduce the likelihood of recurrence.

Emergency procedures are in place for incidents such as fire, serious injury, vehicle collisions and hazardous situations encountered at customer premises. Employees are briefed on how to respond, including raising the alarm, contacting emergency services and making the area safe where possible without putting themselves at risk.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

Fulham Removals is committed to the continual improvement of its health and safety performance. We monitor compliance with this policy through inspections, audits, reviews of accident and near miss data, and feedback from employees and customers.

This policy and the associated risk assessments and procedures are reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes in legislation, operations or identified risks. Any changes are communicated to employees and implemented as part of our ongoing management of health and safety.

All employees, contractors and others working on behalf of Fulham Removals are expected to co operate fully with this policy so that together we can ensure a safe and healthy working environment.