Health and Safety policy
Paddington Movers Health and Safety Policy
Paddington Movers is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for all employees, contractors, visitors and customers. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with moving, lifting, transport, storage and related removal activities, and to promoting a culture where safety is an integral part of everyday work.
Policy Statement and Objectives
Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health, property damage and environmental harm arising from our operations. We will work to identify hazards, assess risks and implement effective control measures for all aspects of our removal services, including packing, loading, unloading, transportation and handling of goods in homes, offices and other premises.
Paddington Movers will comply with relevant health and safety legislation, industry standards and good practice guidance. We will review and improve our systems regularly to ensure that our working methods remain safe, efficient and appropriate to the nature of our work.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management has overall responsibility for health and safety within Paddington Movers. This includes setting policy, providing resources and monitoring performance. Management will ensure that:
Clear procedures are in place for planning, supervising and reviewing removal work. Adequate equipment, tools and vehicles are supplied, maintained and inspected in line with safety requirements. Risk assessments and method statements are prepared and communicated before work begins, especially for complex or high risk moves. Incidents, accidents and near misses are reported, investigated and acted upon promptly.
Supervisors are responsible for day to day implementation of the policy on site and during transport. They must lead by example, ensure that staff follow safe systems of work, use personal protective equipment correctly and report any concerns immediately.
Employee Responsibilities
Every employee has an important role in maintaining health and safety. All staff must:
Take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions at work. Follow company procedures, safe working practices and instructions given by supervisors or managers. Use provided equipment, tools and personal protective equipment correctly and report any defects without delay. Immediately report accidents, incidents, hazards or unsafe conditions so that corrective action can be taken. Co operate with the company on all matters related to health and safety, including attending training and participating in risk assessments when requested.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
We will carry out risk assessments for our main activities, including manual handling of furniture and boxes, use of lifting aids, work in stairwells and confined spaces, vehicle movements, loading and unloading, and work at height where this cannot be avoided. Additional site specific assessments will be completed when conditions require it.
From these assessments we will develop safe systems of work and method statements that describe how tasks should be completed safely. These will include guidance on planning routes, securing loads, safe lifting techniques, use of equipment such as trolleys and straps, and procedures for working in occupied premises and shared access areas.
Manual Handling and Use of Equipment
Manual handling is a key risk in removal work. Paddington Movers will, where reasonably practicable, avoid or reduce manual lifting by using appropriate handling aids and planning work to minimise unnecessary carrying and awkward movements.
Employees will receive instruction on safe lifting techniques, team lifting, assessing the weight and stability of loads and recognising when a lift is unsafe. Equipment such as sack trucks, dollies, furniture skates, straps and ramps will be selected, maintained and used in line with manufacturer guidance and company procedures.
Vehicle and Road Safety
Our vehicles will be maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition, with regular checks and servicing. Drivers will hold appropriate licences and follow all road traffic regulations. We will train drivers and crew members in safe driving, reversing and manoeuvring, with particular care taken in residential streets, busy commercial areas and shared access spaces.
Loads will be planned and secured to prevent movement during transit, with consideration given to weight distribution, stacking and protection of customer property. Vehicles will not be overloaded, and access to emergency equipment will be kept clear at all times.
Customer Premises and Public Safety
We recognise our responsibility to protect customers, visitors and members of the public during our operations. Before work starts, our team will assess access routes, stairs, lifts, doorways and parking areas to identify hazards. Where necessary, we will use signs, verbal warnings or temporary barriers to manage risks, especially when moving large items through shared corridors or entrances.
We will take care to prevent trips, slips and falls by managing trailing cables, packing materials and equipment. Surfaces will be kept as clear as reasonably possible, and any damage or incident on site will be reported to the customer promptly.
Training, Information and Supervision
Paddington Movers will provide appropriate health and safety training for all staff according to their roles and responsibilities. This may include induction training, manual handling, safe use of equipment, vehicle safety, working at height awareness and emergency procedures.
Information about risks and control measures will be provided in a clear and practical format. Supervisors will monitor working practices to ensure that training is applied in day to day activities, and will provide additional instruction or refresher training when required.
Emergency Procedures, Accidents and First Aid
We will maintain clear procedures for dealing with emergencies, including fire, accidents, vehicle incidents, personal injury and sudden illness. Staff will be briefed on how to raise the alarm, contact emergency services and, where trained, provide basic first aid.
All accidents, incidents and near misses related to our work will be recorded and investigated so that we can learn from them and prevent recurrence. Corrective actions and any changes to procedures will be communicated to affected staff.
Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement
Paddington Movers will regularly monitor the implementation of this Health and Safety Policy through inspections, audits, feedback from employees and customers, and analysis of incident data. Where necessary, we will update our risk assessments, procedures and training to reflect changes in legislation, guidance, work practices or equipment.
This policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure it remains relevant and effective. All employees will be made aware of any significant changes, and managers will ensure that the updated policy is implemented throughout the business.
By working together, following established procedures and continually improving our systems, Paddington Movers aims to provide a professional removal service that protects the health, safety and welfare of everyone involved.
