Movers Dulwich Health and Safety Policy
Movers Dulwich 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 removals and related services. This Health and Safety policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with household and commercial moves, packing, loading, transport and delivery of goods.
We recognise that effective health and safety management is integral to the quality of our moving services and to the protection of people, property and the environment. Health and safety considerations are built into our planning, day-to-day operations and continuous improvement processes.
Policy Aims and Objectives
The aims of this policy are to prevent injury and ill health, comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and industry best practice, and promote a positive health and safety culture across Movers Dulwich.
Our key objectives are to identify and control risks associated with removals work, ensure that employees are competent and properly trained for their tasks, provide safe equipment and vehicles for all removal activities, maintain safe systems of work for manual handling, packing, loading and unloading, encourage active participation in health and safety matters and review and improve our arrangements on a regular basis.
Responsibilities of Management
Senior management at Movers Dulwich has overall responsibility for implementing and maintaining this Health and Safety policy. Management duties include ensuring that adequate resources are provided for health and safety, setting clear standards and expectations for safe working practices, appointing competent persons to assist with health and safety matters, monitoring performance and enforcing compliance with safe systems of work.
Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for day-to-day implementation, including briefing staff on risks and control measures before each job, checking that vehicles, lifting equipment and moving aids are in safe condition, ensuring that personal protective equipment is available and used when required, and stopping any work that presents an unacceptable risk until it can be made safe.
Responsibilities of Employees
All employees of Movers Dulwich share responsibility for their own health and safety and that of those who may be affected by their actions. Employees are expected to follow all safety instructions and procedures, use vehicles, tools and equipment only as trained and intended, report hazards, near misses, defects and incidents promptly, take reasonable care of their own wellbeing and that of colleagues, and cooperate fully with any investigation or corrective action.
No employee is expected to carry out work that they believe to be unsafe. Concerns must be raised immediately with a supervisor so that appropriate controls can be put in place.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
Movers Dulwich carries out risk assessments covering typical moving tasks and site-specific conditions. These assessments consider hazards such as manual handling, slips and trips, working in confined or cluttered spaces, use of lifting equipment and trolleys, loading and securing goods for transport, vehicle movement in residential and commercial areas and interaction with customers and the public.
Control measures are introduced based on these assessments, and safe systems of work are documented and communicated to staff. Where sites present particular challenges, such as limited access, uneven surfaces or restricted parking, additional controls are planned before work begins.
Manual Handling and Use of Equipment
Manual handling is a core part of removal work and is treated as a key risk area. Movers Dulwich minimises manual lifting by using appropriate equipment, including trolleys, dollies, lifting straps and ramps. Loads are assessed for weight, size and stability before being moved.
Employees receive training in safe lifting techniques, team lifting and the correct use of moving aids. Heavy or awkward items are handled only by suitably trained staff and, where necessary, using specialist equipment. Items are packed and wrapped to reduce the risk of injury and damage during handling.
Vehicle and Driving Safety
Our vehicles are maintained in a roadworthy condition and inspected regularly. Drivers must hold appropriate licences and follow all road traffic regulations. Loads are distributed and secured to prevent movement during transit, and weight limits are respected at all times.
Drivers are required to plan routes with safety in mind, including consideration of access for larger vehicles, safe parking for loading and unloading and minimising reversing where possible. Fatigue management and rest breaks are taken seriously to support safe driving.
Personal Protective Equipment
Where risks cannot be fully controlled by other means, suitable personal protective equipment is provided. This may include safety footwear, gloves, high visibility clothing and other items appropriate to specific tasks or environments.
Employees are responsible for using the protective equipment supplied, keeping it in good condition and reporting any loss or damage so that replacements can be arranged promptly.
Training, Information and Supervision
Movers Dulwich ensures that all employees receive appropriate induction and ongoing training relevant to their role. Training covers safe manual handling, use of moving equipment, vehicle and driving safety, site safety when working at customer premises and emergency procedures.
Information about specific risks and control measures is provided before each job, and less experienced staff are supervised by more experienced colleagues or team leaders until they are deemed competent to work independently.
Incident Reporting and Emergency Procedures
All accidents, injuries, near misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported immediately. Movers Dulwich investigates incidents to identify root causes and implement corrective actions, with the aim of preventing recurrence.
Emergency procedures are in place for incidents such as injury during lifting, vehicle accidents and fire at customer premises or in our own facilities. Staff are briefed on how to raise the alarm, contact emergency services where necessary and follow site-specific emergency instructions.
Consultation and Continuous Improvement
We encourage feedback from employees and customers on safety matters. Concerns, suggestions and observations about working practices, equipment or conditions are welcomed and considered as part of our improvement process.
This Health and Safety policy is reviewed regularly and updated when necessary to reflect changes in legislation, operational practices or the nature of the moving services we provide. The reviewed policy is communicated to all employees so that it remains understood and effectively applied.
