Wimbledon Removals Health and Safety Policy

Wimbledon Removals is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for all employees, contractors, customers, visitors and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and relocation activities. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety across all domestic and commercial moves within our service area.

Our Health and Safety Objectives

Our primary 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 tailored to removal operations, including packing, loading, transportation and unloading.

Health and safety is integral to the way we operate and is given equal priority with other key business objectives such as customer service and operational efficiency.

Legal Responsibilities and Standards

Wimbledon Removals complies with all applicable health and safety legislation, regulations and approved codes of practice relevant to the removals and transport sector. We monitor changes in requirements and industry standards and adjust our procedures, training and risk controls as necessary to remain compliant and to follow best practice.

Management Responsibilities

Overall responsibility for health and safety rests with the company management. Management is responsible for:

Ensuring suitable resources are available to implement and maintain this policy.

Establishing and reviewing health and safety objectives and performance indicators.

Implementing safe systems of work for all removal activities.

Carrying out, recording and regularly reviewing risk assessments for tasks such as manual handling, working at height when required, vehicle loading, and transport operations.

Providing employees with the information, instruction, training and supervision they need to work safely and competently.

Investigating accidents, incidents and near misses to identify root causes and prevent recurrence.

Employee Responsibilities

Every employee has an individual responsibility to safeguard their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Employees are required to:

Follow all safety procedures, instructions and training provided.

Use equipment, tools and vehicles correctly and only for their intended purpose.

Wear any personal protective equipment issued to them and take reasonable care of it.

Report hazards, defects, accidents, near misses and unsafe practices immediately to their supervisor or manager.

Cooperate fully with health and safety investigations, training and audits.

Refrain from any behaviour that could compromise safety, including working under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Wimbledon Removals conducts risk assessments for all significant activities carried out during moves. These assessments identify potential hazards and evaluate the likelihood and severity of harm. Control measures are then implemented and communicated to staff.

Typical areas of focus include:

Manual handling of furniture and boxes, including use of correct lifting techniques, team lifting, and use of handling aids such as dollies, trolleys and straps.

Safe handling of fragile, heavy or awkward items such as pianos, appliances and large furniture.

Safe loading, stacking and securing of goods in vehicles to prevent movement during transit.

Use and maintenance of ramps, tail lifts and other access equipment.

Working safely in different environments, including homes, offices, stairwells, corridors and external access routes.

Awareness of slips, trips and falls, and prompt management of obstructions and spillages.

Vehicle and Driver Safety

Our vehicles and drivers play a central role in delivering a safe removal service. Wimbledon Removals ensures that:

Vehicles are regularly inspected, maintained and serviced in line with manufacturer recommendations and legal requirements.

Loads are planned, distributed and secured safely to maintain vehicle stability and prevent shifting during transport.

Drivers hold the appropriate licences, are trained in safe driving and loading practices, and observe all road traffic laws.

Driving hours, rest breaks and fatigue management are considered to protect drivers and other road users.

Parking and access at collection and delivery locations are assessed to minimise risk to pedestrians, customers and staff.

Customer and Public Safety

We recognise our duty of care towards customers and members of the public in the vicinity of our work. To manage these risks, we:

Plan moves to minimise congestion and obstruction around properties and entrances.

Keep access routes as clear as reasonably possible during loading and unloading.

Use safe lifting and carrying methods when moving items through shared or public spaces.

Communicate clearly with customers about any short-term restrictions, hazards or safety precautions during the move.

Training, Information and Supervision

All staff receive induction training that covers the company’s health and safety policy, safe working practices and emergency procedures. Additional task-specific training is provided for activities such as manual handling, use of access equipment and safe vehicle operation.

Supervisors and team leaders monitor working practices, provide guidance, and ensure that all safety procedures are followed on site. Refresher training is provided when there are changes in procedures, equipment or legislation, or when a training need is identified.

Accident, Incident and Near-Miss Reporting

All accidents, injuries, work-related ill health cases and near misses must be reported as soon as possible. Management will investigate each case to identify causes and implement corrective actions. Where legally required, incidents will be reported to the relevant authorities.

Welfare, Health and Wellbeing

We recognise that the physical nature of removals work can be demanding. Wimbledon Removals takes steps to protect the welfare and wellbeing of employees by:

Promoting proper manual handling techniques and rotation of tasks to reduce strain.

Ensuring access to drinking water, rest breaks and suitable welfare facilities during the working day.

Encouraging employees to report health concerns that may affect their ability to work safely.

Emergency Procedures

We maintain emergency procedures relevant to our operations, including fire safety, evacuation, first aid provision and response to road traffic incidents. Staff are briefed on emergency arrangements and the location of first aid supplies. Designated individuals are trained to provide first aid support.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

This Health and Safety Policy is monitored on an ongoing basis and reviewed at least annually, or more frequently if there are significant changes to our operations, legislation, or following a major incident. Lessons learned from audits, inspections, feedback and investigations are used to improve our procedures and performance.

Wimbledon Removals is committed to continually improving health and safety management and maintaining a culture where safety is everyone’s responsibility.