Health and Safety policy

Dulwich Removals Health and Safety Policy

Dulwich Removals is committed to maintaining the highest standards of health and safety for our employees, customers, contractors and members of the public who may be affected by our work. This policy sets out the principles, responsibilities and arrangements that guide how we manage health and safety across all removal, packing, loading, transport and delivery activities.

Health and Safety Objectives

Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health, damage to property and adverse impact on the environment. We aim to provide a safe and healthy working environment for all employees and to ensure that our moving and storage services are delivered in a way that protects customers and the public.

We are committed to continual improvement in health and safety performance, including regular review of procedures, training, equipment and working methods used in domestic and commercial removals.

Management Responsibilities

The management of Dulwich Removals accepts overall responsibility for health and safety within the company. Management will:

Provide and maintain safe systems of work for all moving, lifting, packing, transport and storage activities.
Ensure that vehicles, equipment and tools used for removals are suitable, well maintained and safe to operate.
Carry out and regularly review risk assessments covering manual handling, working at height, vehicle movements, loading and unloading, use of equipment and other relevant hazards.
Provide information, instruction, supervision and training so that all employees are competent to perform their roles safely.
Ensure that health and safety considerations are integrated into planning for every removal project and into the allocation of work.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their work. Employees of Dulwich Removals are required to:

Follow company health and safety procedures, safe working practices and instructions provided by supervisors.
Use vehicles, equipment and personal protective equipment correctly and report any defects or concerns immediately.
Cooperate fully with training, briefings and safety initiatives.
Report accidents, incidents, near misses and hazards as soon as possible so that appropriate action can be taken.
Refrain from any act or omission which could endanger themselves, colleagues, customers or members of the public.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Risk assessments are carried out for our core activities, including home and office removals, packing, handling of furniture and equipment, loading and unloading vehicles and operating in stairwells, corridors and outdoor areas. These assessments consider potential risks such as slips, trips, falls, manual handling injuries, collisions, property damage and adverse weather conditions.

Based on these assessments, Dulwich Removals implements safe working practices which may include route planning for vehicle access, use of lifting aids where appropriate, team lifts for heavy or awkward items, and measures to protect floors, walls and fixtures at both collection and delivery locations.

Manual Handling and Use of Equipment

Manual handling is a key part of our work. Dulwich Removals provides training in correct lifting techniques and in the safe handling of bulky, heavy or fragile items. Staff are instructed to:

Assess the weight, size and shape of items before moving them.
Use trolleys, dollies and other handling aids whenever practical.
Work in teams when lifting heavy or awkward loads.
Avoid unsafe shortcuts such as overreaching, twisting while lifting or carrying loads that restrict vision.

Only trained personnel are permitted to operate specialist equipment such as tail lifts and securing systems in vehicles.

Vehicles and Driving Safety

Dulwich Removals recognises that safe operation of vehicles is essential to protecting our staff, customers and the public. We ensure that:

Vehicles are regularly inspected, serviced and maintained in line with legal and manufacturer requirements.
Loads are secured safely to prevent movement during transit.
Drivers hold the appropriate licences and are trained in safe driving practices and manoeuvring in residential and commercial environments.
Parking and unloading are planned to minimise disruption and risk to pedestrians and other road users.

Customer and Public Safety

When working at customers premises or in shared spaces, our teams take reasonable steps to protect others from harm. This includes:

Maintaining clear walkways and escape routes where possible.
Using warning signs or verbal warnings when moving large items through communal areas.
Taking care to prevent trip hazards from equipment, packing materials and tools.
Respecting house rules, building regulations and site-specific safety instructions.

Training, Communication and Consultation

Dulwich Removals provides induction and ongoing training for staff on health and safety responsibilities and procedures relevant to their roles. This may cover manual handling, vehicle safety, use of equipment, working in customers homes, emergency procedures and reporting of incidents.

We encourage open communication about health and safety. Employees are invited to raise concerns, suggest improvements and participate in discussions about safer working methods. Management will consult with staff on matters affecting their health and safety and consider their input when reviewing procedures.

Incidents, Emergencies and First Aid

All accidents, injuries, near misses and cases of work-related ill health must be reported promptly so that they can be recorded, investigated and, where necessary, corrective actions introduced. We aim to learn from incidents to prevent recurrence.

Appropriate first aid provisions are maintained, and staff are made aware of the location of first aid supplies in vehicles and workplaces. In the event of a serious incident or emergency, employees must follow established procedures, prioritising the safety of people before property.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

Dulwich Removals monitors health and safety performance through incident reports, inspections, feedback from staff and customers and periodic reviews of risk assessments and safe systems of work. This policy and associated procedures are reviewed regularly and updated when there are changes in legislation, industry standards or company operations.

All employees are expected to familiarise themselves with this Health and Safety Policy and to cooperate fully in its implementation, so that together we can provide a safe and professional removal service.