Acton Removals Health and Safety Policy

Acton Removals is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, contractors, clients, and members of the public who may be affected by our activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out the principles and arrangements that guide how we plan, manage, and carry out removal and relocation services safely and responsibly.

Policy Statement and Objectives

Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health, and damage to property arising from our work. We aim to achieve this by identifying hazards, assessing risks, and implementing effective control measures that are suitable for the nature of removal and transportation services.

We will comply with all relevant health and safety legislation, regulations, and approved codes of practice applicable to our operations. We will actively promote a positive safety culture and expect everyone associated with Acton Removals to take personal responsibility for working safely and reporting concerns promptly.

Responsibilities for Health and Safety

The management of Acton Removals has overall responsibility for ensuring this policy is implemented, maintained, and reviewed. Management will provide leadership, resources, and support to ensure that health and safety standards are effectively applied across all aspects of our removal services.

Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for implementing safe working procedures on site and in vehicles, communicating safety instructions, and ensuring that staff and contractors follow them. They must also ensure that all equipment and vehicles are used correctly and maintained in a safe condition.

All employees and contractors must take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. This includes using equipment properly, following training and instructions, wearing any required personal protective equipment, and reporting hazards, incidents, or near misses without delay.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Acton Removals will carry out suitable and sufficient risk assessments for our removal activities, including lifting and carrying, loading and unloading vehicles, working in and around customers premises, and transporting goods. Where necessary, site-specific assessments will be completed to address particular layouts, access restrictions, or unusual items.

Control measures arising from risk assessments will be documented and communicated to staff. These may include the use of mechanical aids, team lifting, route planning, securing loads, and implementing exclusion zones when manoeuvring vehicles and large items. We will develop and maintain safe systems of work that are practical, clearly understood, and regularly reviewed.

Manual Handling and Use of Equipment

Lifting and handling are central to removal work and present significant risk of injury if not managed correctly. Acton Removals will minimise manual handling risks by assessing loads, encouraging use of handling aids such as trolleys and dollies, and organising jobs so that heavy or awkward items are handled by adequate numbers of trained staff.

All employees involved in manual handling will receive appropriate training, including how to assess loads, use correct lifting techniques, and recognise when mechanical assistance or extra help is required. We will ensure that moving equipment, straps, ramps, and protective materials are suitable, maintained, and used in accordance with manufacturer guidance and company procedures.

Vehicles, Driving, and Transport Safety

Acton Removals will maintain all vehicles in a roadworthy and safe condition through regular inspections, servicing, and documented checks. Drivers must hold appropriate licences, follow road traffic laws, and adhere to company rules regarding safe driving, rest breaks, and loading limits.

Loads will be packed and secured to prevent movement during transit, with particular care for heavy, fragile, or unusually shaped items. Access routes will be planned to minimise reversing where possible, and where reversing is unavoidable, banksmen or spotters will be used when it is safe and practical to do so.

Protection of Clients, Public, and Property

We recognise our duty to protect clients, visitors, neighbours, and members of the public who may be affected by our work. When carrying out removals, our teams will take reasonable steps to prevent trips, falls, and collisions by organising clear walkways, managing cables and equipment, and communicating movements of large items.

We will use appropriate protective materials such as floor covers, corner guards, and furniture wraps to reduce the risk of damage to premises and belongings. Any damage or incident that occurs will be reported to management so that it can be investigated and addressed appropriately.

Training, Information, and Supervision

Acton Removals is committed to providing suitable health and safety training to all staff according to their role and responsibilities. This includes induction training for new starters, refresher training, toolbox talks, and role-specific instruction on manual handling, vehicle safety, and use of equipment.

Information about risks and controls will be communicated clearly, and staff will be encouraged to raise questions or concerns. Adequate supervision will be provided for less experienced employees and for tasks that present higher levels of risk.

Accident Reporting, Investigation, and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, incidents, and near misses must be reported to management as soon as possible, no matter how minor they may seem. Acton Removals will record and investigate these events to identify root causes and implement corrective actions that reduce the likelihood of recurrence.

Emergency arrangements will be in place for situations such as fire, personal injury, vehicle breakdowns, and spillage of fuels or other hazardous substances. Staff will be informed of relevant emergency procedures, including how to summon assistance and how to respond safely to foreseeable incidents.

Health, Welfare, and Wellbeing

We recognise that health and safety includes both physical and mental wellbeing. Acton Removals will seek to ensure that workloads are reasonable, that staff have access to welfare facilities, and that working time arrangements support safe performance, particularly for driving and physically demanding tasks.

We will take account of medical fitness where applicable to safety-critical roles and will encourage staff to inform management of any condition that may affect their ability to work safely so that appropriate support or adjustments can be considered.

Consultation and Continuous Improvement

Acton Removals values input from employees and contractors on how to improve health and safety. We will consult with staff on matters that affect their safety and encourage proactive reporting of hazards and suggestions for improvement.

This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes to our operations, legislation, or identified risks. Updates will be communicated to all relevant parties to ensure that safe working practices remain current and effective.