Enfield Removals Health and Safety Policy

Enfield Removals is committed to maintaining the highest standards of health, safety and wellbeing for our employees, contractors, customers and members of the public. This policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with removal, packing, transportation and storage activities, and forms part of our wider commitment to providing a safe, professional and reliable removals service.

Policy Statement and Objectives

Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health, damage to property and harm to the environment arising from our operations. We will identify and control risks so far as is reasonably practicable and ensure that health and safety considerations are at the heart of planning and delivering our services.

We aim to continually improve our health and safety performance by reviewing working practices, equipment, training programmes and feedback from staff and customers. This policy is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains suitable and effective for our business and service area.

Management Responsibilities

Senior management at Enfield Removals has overall responsibility for health and safety. They ensure suitable resources are available to implement this policy and to maintain safe working conditions, safe systems of work and appropriate supervision.

Management will ensure that:

Health and safety risks are assessed and control measures are implemented and monitored.

All vehicles, lifting equipment and tools are maintained in a safe condition.

Accidents, incidents and near misses are reported, investigated and used to improve safety.

Employees are consulted on health and safety matters and can raise concerns without fear of reprisal.

Employee Responsibilities

Every employee of Enfield 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.

Employees must:

Follow training, instructions and safe working procedures at all times.

Use equipment, vehicles and protective equipment properly and report any defects immediately.

Cooperate with management to enable compliance with health and safety requirements.

Report accidents, incidents, near misses and any hazardous conditions as soon as possible.

Not misuse or interfere with anything provided in the interests of health, safety and welfare.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

We carry out risk assessments for our key activities, including home and office moves, packing, loading and unloading, lifting and carrying, driving and vehicle operations and storage handling.

These assessments identify significant hazards and set out control measures, which may include planning the move route and access points, using appropriate lifting techniques, securing loads within vehicles, allocating sufficient staff for heavy or awkward items, and ensuring good housekeeping at work sites to prevent slips, trips and falls.

Safe systems of work are documented where necessary and communicated to all relevant staff through training and briefing sessions.

Manual Handling and Use of Equipment

Manual handling is a significant part of removal work. Enfield Removals provides manual handling training covering correct lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling techniques, team lifts, and recognition of loads that require mechanical assistance or additional staff.

We provide suitable handling equipment, such as trolleys, dollies, lifting straps and ramps, and ensure that only trained and authorised personnel use specialist equipment. Loads are assessed for weight, size, stability and route constraints before movement, and employees are instructed never to attempt lifts that may put themselves or others at risk.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Our vehicles are regularly inspected, serviced and maintained to a safe standard. Drivers are expected to comply with all road traffic legislation and company driving policies. This includes safe loading and securing of items, route planning to avoid unnecessary risk, adherence to speed limits and safe parking and unloading practices near customer premises.

Only trained and authorised employees may drive company vehicles. Drivers must report any faults, defects or incidents promptly so that corrective action can be taken.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

When working at customer premises or within public areas, our teams must take all reasonable steps to protect customers, neighbours and passers-by. This includes maintaining clear walkways, using warning signs or barriers where practical, controlling vehicle movements and being mindful of noise, obstructions and any potential hazards created by our work.

We work cooperatively with customers to agree safe access routes, timing of moves, and any specific considerations relevant to the property or local environment.

Training, Information and Supervision

Enfield Removals provides appropriate health and safety training for all employees based on their role and responsibilities. This may include induction training, manual handling, use of equipment, vehicle and driver safety, working at height where applicable and emergency procedures.

Refresher training is provided periodically and whenever there are significant changes to work methods, equipment or legislation. Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for monitoring work on site, ensuring procedures are followed and providing guidance to less experienced staff.

Personal Protective Equipment

Where risks cannot be fully controlled by other means, suitable personal protective equipment is provided, such as safety footwear, gloves, high-visibility clothing and any other items identified by risk assessment. Employees are required to use this equipment when instructed and to keep it in good condition, reporting any damage or loss.

Accidents, Incidents and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, incidents and near misses must be reported as soon as possible to a supervisor or manager. Records are kept and reviewed to identify trends and opportunities for improvement. Serious incidents are investigated to determine root causes and to implement corrective actions.

Emergency procedures are in place for fire, serious injury, vehicle accidents and other foreseeable events. Employees are briefed on emergency arrangements and must cooperate fully during any incident, prioritising the safety of people over property.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

We regularly monitor our health and safety performance through site checks, vehicle inspections, review of accident reports and staff feedback. Findings are used to revise risk assessments, update procedures and improve training. This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed periodically and updated as needed to reflect changes in our operations, legislation or industry best practice.

By working together and following this policy, Enfield Removals aims to deliver removal services safely and responsibly throughout our service area, protecting our employees, customers and the wider community.