Health and Safety policy
Hampstead Movers Health and Safety Policy
Hampstead Movers is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, contractors, customers and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and relocation activities. This Health and Safety policy sets out the principles and procedures that guide our approach to managing risk and promoting safe working practices in all moves we undertake.
Our Health and Safety Commitment
We recognise that removals and related services involve manual handling, vehicle movements, access to properties and the use of specialised equipment. Hampstead Movers is committed to preventing injury and ill health by systematically identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing appropriate control measures for every job.
The management team accepts overall responsibility for health and safety performance and will provide the necessary resources, training and supervision to ensure that this policy is implemented and continuously improved.
Roles and Responsibilities
Health and safety is a shared responsibility across Hampstead Movers.
Management is responsible for setting clear safety standards, planning work with risk control in mind, ensuring that employees are trained and competent, monitoring performance and reviewing procedures regularly.
Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for briefing staff before each job, checking that vehicles and equipment are suitable and safe, ensuring that lifting and loading practices follow company guidelines and stopping work if serious risks are identified.
Employees are responsible for following safe working procedures at all times, using equipment correctly, reporting hazards, near misses and incidents without delay and cooperating with any health and safety instructions or investigations.
Customers are asked to support safe working by providing accurate information about access, parking, items to be moved and any known hazards at the premises so that we can plan and work safely.
Risk Assessment and Planning
Hampstead Movers carries out risk assessments for typical removal activities and reviews them regularly. For higher risk or complex moves, a site-specific assessment may be completed before work starts.
When planning work we consider access routes in and out of properties, parking and loading arrangements, potential obstructions and trip hazards, condition of stairways and lifts, weight, size and nature of items being moved, required equipment such as trolleys, straps and protective materials and weather and environmental conditions that may affect safety.
Control measures such as the use of additional staff, specialist equipment or revised access routes will be implemented where necessary to reduce risks to an acceptable level.
Manual Handling and Safe Lifting
Manual handling is central to removal work and is a key focus of our safety management. We aim to minimise the need for manual lifting wherever reasonably practicable by using equipment such as sack trucks, dollies, hoists and sliders and by breaking down loads into smaller, manageable units where possible.
All staff receive guidance on safe lifting techniques, including assessing the load before lifting, keeping loads close to the body, avoiding twisting while carrying, working in teams for heavy or awkward items and using designated rest points when carrying over distance or on stairs.
Where an item is assessed as too heavy or unsafe to move by manual means, alternative methods or additional support will be arranged, or the item will not be moved if it cannot be done safely.
Vehicles, Driving and Loading
Hampstead Movers takes care to ensure that vehicles used for removal work are maintained, suitable for their purpose and loaded safely. Drivers are expected to hold appropriate licences, follow road traffic laws and operate vehicles with consideration for other road users and pedestrians.
Before departure, loads are checked to ensure weight is distributed evenly, items are secured to prevent movement during transit, access ramps and steps are stowed safely and emergency equipment such as reflective warning devices remains available.
Drivers and crew members must not operate company vehicles under the influence of alcohol or drugs and must not drive while fatigued. Rest breaks will be planned as required to maintain alertness and safe driving standards.
Use of Equipment and Protective Measures
We provide suitable tools and equipment to support safe working, such as moving blankets, straps, trolleys, lifting aids and protective floor coverings. Staff are trained in their correct use and instructed to report any defects immediately.
Personal protective equipment may be used where appropriate, for example safety footwear to protect against dropped objects, gloves to reduce the risk of cuts and abrasions and high visibility garments where working near traffic or in low light.
Equipment that is damaged or unsafe will be removed from service until repaired or replaced.
Working at Height and Use of Stairs
Removal tasks can involve working on stairs, ramps and occasionally at height. We aim to avoid unnecessary work at height and to use safe access equipment when it cannot be avoided. Staff are instructed not to overreach, stand on unsuitable objects to gain height or use damaged steps or ladders.
When using stairways, extra care is taken to maintain clear routes, communicate movements between team members and use lifting techniques that account for limited space and restricted visibility.
Customer Premises and Public Safety
We recognise our duty to protect customers, visitors and members of the public from risks created by our work. During each job we aim to maintain clear walkways, avoid blocking fire exits, use warning signs or verbal guidance where necessary, control vehicle movements near entrances and pavements and keep noise and disruption to a reasonable level.
If conditions at a property are considered unsafe, our team leader will discuss concerns with the customer and may adjust the working method or, in serious cases, suspend work until risks can be addressed.
Training, Consultation and Communication
Hampstead Movers provides health and safety induction for new employees and ongoing training covering safe lifting and carrying, vehicle safety, use of equipment, incident reporting and emergency procedures. Additional task-specific training is given where specialist equipment or techniques are required.
We encourage open communication about safety. Employees are invited to raise suggestions or concerns, and we consult with staff when reviewing procedures or introducing new equipment. Feedback from customers is also used to improve our safety performance.
Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures
All accidents, injuries, near misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported promptly to management. We investigate incidents to identify root causes and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
Our teams are briefed on what to do in the event of accidents, fire or medical emergencies while on customer premises or on the road. This includes contacting emergency services when required, following any on-site safety rules, protecting others from immediate danger and reporting details to management as soon as practicable.
Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement
This Health and Safety policy is monitored and reviewed regularly to ensure it remains effective and relevant to our operations. Reviews take into account incident data, staff feedback, changes in working practices and applicable legal or industry standards.
Hampstead Movers is committed to continuous improvement in health and safety performance, recognising that safe and careful working is essential to delivering a reliable and professional removal service for all our customers.
