Health and Safety policy
Shoreditch Movers Health and Safety Policy
Shoreditch Movers is committed to maintaining the highest possible standards of health and safety for our employees, customers, contractors and members of the public. As a professional removals company, we recognise that our work involves manual handling, vehicle operations and activity in a range of domestic and commercial environments. This policy sets out our approach to managing these risks responsibly and consistently.
Policy Objectives
The objectives of this Health and Safety Policy are to prevent accidents, injuries and work-related ill health, to protect property and belongings, and to promote a culture of safety throughout all moving and storage activities. We aim to identify hazards, control risks, provide appropriate training and encourage open communication on safety matters.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management at Shoreditch Movers has overall responsibility for health and safety performance within the company. This includes ensuring that adequate resources, equipment and supervision are provided to implement this policy. Management will regularly review health and safety procedures, investigate any incidents and drive continuous improvement across our operations.
Managers and supervisors are responsible for ensuring that safe systems of work are followed on every removal job, that staff understand their duties, and that risk assessments are completed and acted upon. They will also make sure that only competent personnel operate vehicles, lifting equipment and any specialist tools.
Employee Responsibilities
Every employee has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. All team members must follow company procedures, use equipment correctly, and cooperate fully with instructions relating to safe working practices.
Employees must report hazards, near misses, accidents, faulty equipment and any unsafe conditions to their supervisor without delay. Staff are expected to attend health and safety training, maintain good manual handling habits, and arrive fit and able to carry out their duties, free from the influence of alcohol, drugs or fatigue that could impair safety.
Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices
Before starting any removal job, a suitable and sufficient assessment of potential risks will be carried out. This may include consideration of access routes, stairways, parking, loading areas, weight and size of items, fragile goods, environmental conditions and the presence of vulnerable persons.
Based on the assessment, appropriate control measures will be implemented, such as the use of handling equipment, additional manpower, protective clothing or alternative methods of moving items. Safe systems of work will be communicated clearly to the team on site, and where conditions change, risk assessments will be reviewed and updated as necessary.
Manual Handling and Use of Equipment
Manual handling is central to removals work and is a key focus of our safety procedures. Staff will receive training in correct lifting techniques, team lifting, load assessment and the use of equipment such as sack trucks, dollies, lifting straps and ramps. No employee should attempt to lift or move an item that exceeds their individual capabilities or the safe working limits of the equipment provided.
All vehicles and equipment used in our operations will be maintained in a safe condition and inspected regularly. Defective tools or equipment will be taken out of service immediately and either repaired by a competent person or replaced. Only trained and authorised personnel may operate removal vehicles and any specialised lifting apparatus.
Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards
Shoreditch Movers is committed to safe and responsible driving practices. Drivers must hold the appropriate valid licence, comply with road traffic laws, and follow company rules on loading, securing loads and route planning. Vehicles will be loaded within their legal weight limits and items will be restrained to prevent shifting during transit.
Drivers are required to carry out pre-use vehicle checks and report any defects. Journey planning will take account of time, weather and traffic conditions, and drivers must not use mobile devices in a manner that distracts from safe driving. Fatigue management and rest breaks are to be observed in line with company guidelines and relevant legislation.
Customer and Public Safety
We take the safety of customers, visitors and members of the public extremely seriously. Work areas will be organised to minimise trip hazards and obstruction, particularly in shared corridors, pavements and access points. Where necessary, warnings will be given and routes temporarily restricted to keep people clear of lifting and loading operations.
Care will be taken when moving large or bulky items in and out of properties to avoid damage to buildings, services and surrounding property. Our teams will act considerately in residential and commercial locations, maintaining clear communication with customers to coordinate safe access during the move.
Training, Information and Supervision
All employees receive appropriate induction and ongoing training relevant to their role, including manual handling, safe use of equipment, hazard awareness, incident reporting and emergency procedures. Refresher training will be provided at suitable intervals or when new risks, equipment or working methods are introduced.
Supervision levels will be appropriate to the experience and competence of staff and to the nature of the work. New employees or those unfamiliar with certain tasks will be supported and monitored to ensure that safe standards are maintained at all times.
Accident Reporting and Investigation
All accidents, incidents and near misses, however minor, must be reported as soon as possible. Shoreditch Movers will record and investigate these events to identify root causes and implement corrective actions. This helps us to prevent recurrence and continuously improve our safety performance.
Where necessary, incidents will be reported to the appropriate authorities in line with current legal requirements. We will also keep employees informed of any lessons learned and changes to procedures arising from incident investigations.
Emergency Preparedness
Our teams are briefed on emergency procedures relevant to domestic and commercial sites, including evacuation routes, fire safety considerations and first aid arrangements. Drivers and team leaders will ensure they understand local emergency procedures at each location and coordinate with customers where needed.
Vehicles and premises will be equipped, where appropriate, with basic first aid supplies and fire safety equipment. Staff will know how to summon emergency services quickly and provide clear information about the location and nature of any incident.
Policy Review and Communication
This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed regularly and updated when changes in legislation, working practices or organisational structure occur. We will consult with employees on health and safety matters and encourage feedback on how our procedures are working in practice.
Shoreditch Movers expects everyone connected with our operations to support this policy and contribute to a safe, professional and respectful working environment on every move we undertake.
