Hanwell Removals Health and Safety Policy
Hanwell Removals is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for all employees, contractors, customers, visitors, and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and relocation activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out the principles and arrangements we follow to manage risks associated with removals, packing, loading, transporting, and unloading of goods.
Our Health and Safety Objectives
Our primary objective is to prevent injury, ill health, and damage to property arising from our operations. We aim to achieve this by identifying hazards, assessing risks, and implementing sensible, proportionate control measures. We seek continuous improvement in health and safety performance as our services, equipment, and working practices develop.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management at Hanwell Removals has overall responsibility for health and safety within the company. This includes ensuring that suitable resources are made available to implement this policy, complying with relevant health and safety legislation, and monitoring performance. Management will:
Provide and maintain safe systems of work, safe equipment, and safe working environments for all activities related to removals and associated services.
Ensure that health and safety roles and responsibilities are clearly defined, communicated, and understood at all levels of the business.
Conduct and regularly review risk assessments for typical removal tasks such as manual handling, working in confined spaces, stairways, and loading or unloading vehicles.
Ensure that employees receive appropriate information, instruction, training, and supervision to work safely and competently.
Investigate accidents, incidents, and near misses to identify root causes and prevent recurrence.
Employee Responsibilities
Every employee of Hanwell Removals 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 at work. Employees are expected to:
Follow all health and safety instructions, safe systems of work, and company procedures.
Use machinery, tools, vehicles, and equipment correctly and only for their intended purpose.
Wear and look after any personal protective equipment provided, and report any damage or defect immediately.
Report all accidents, near misses, unsafe conditions, or hazards to their supervisor as soon as possible.
Cooperate fully with any health and safety initiatives, training, or investigations undertaken by the company.
Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices
Risk assessments are carried out for key activities associated with our removal services, including domestic and commercial moves, packing, storage handling, and furniture assembly or disassembly. These assessments identify hazards such as manual handling, trips and falls, vehicle movements, use of lifting equipment, working at height, and environmental conditions.
Control measures are implemented and communicated to employees through training, toolbox talks, and method statements. Typical safe working practices include planning access routes in and out of properties, keeping work areas clear of obstacles, using handling equipment where practical, maintaining good communication between team members, and securing loads safely before vehicles move.
Manual Handling and Use of Equipment
Manual handling is a significant part of removal work. To reduce the risk of strain and injury, Hanwell Removals provides manual handling training and encourages the use of appropriate equipment. Employees are expected to:
Assess the weight, size, and shape of each item before moving it and seek assistance for heavy or awkward loads.
Use trolleys, skates, lifting straps, and other handling aids whenever reasonably practicable.
Adopt correct lifting techniques and avoid twisting or overreaching while carrying items.
Inspect equipment visually before use and report any faults so that defective equipment is taken out of service.
Vehicle and Driving Safety
Our vehicles are maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition, and drivers are required to hold the appropriate licences and follow all road safety regulations. We expect drivers and crew to:
Carry out basic vehicle checks before departure, including tyres, lights, securing of doors, and load restraint systems.
Load vehicles evenly and securely to prevent movement of goods while in transit.
Park and manoeuvre carefully at collection and delivery addresses, taking account of pedestrians, traffic, and access restrictions.
Never drive while under the influence of alcohol, illegal substances, or any medication that may impair driving ability.
Customer Premises and Public Safety
Our teams work in a variety of residential, commercial, and public environments. We take care to minimise disruption and protect the safety of customers, visitors, and the general public. Measures include:
Planning routes through properties to avoid congestion and protect floors, walls, and fixtures.
Using barriers, signage, or verbal warnings where necessary to alert people to moving loads, vehicle movements, or temporary hazards.
Keeping doorways, stairs, and access paths as clear as reasonably possible throughout the move.
Leaving premises tidy, removing packaging and waste materials generated by our work.
Training, Consultation, and Communication
Hanwell Removals provides induction training for all new employees, covering general health and safety responsibilities, safe lifting, use of equipment, and emergency procedures. Additional task-specific training is given according to individual roles, such as driving, operating lifting equipment, or managing complex moves.
We actively consult with employees on health and safety matters through regular meetings, briefings, and feedback from teams working on site. Employees are encouraged to raise concerns and suggest improvements to working practices. Health and safety updates, changes to procedures, and lessons learned from incidents are communicated promptly.
Emergency Procedures and First Aid
Appropriate first aid provision is maintained for our operations, including trained first aiders and suitable first aid supplies. Employees are informed of emergency arrangements for fire, accidents, and other incidents, both at our own premises and when working at customer sites. Where required, our teams will familiarise themselves with the emergency procedures of the premises they are working in.
Policy Review
This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and updated as necessary to reflect changes in legislation, guidance, industry best practice, and the nature of our services. All employees are informed of significant changes and are expected to work in accordance with the current version of the policy.
By implementing this policy, Hanwell Removals reinforces its commitment to safeguarding the health, safety, and wellbeing of its workforce, customers, and the wider community during all removal and relocation activities.