Liverpool Removals Health and Safety Policy

This Health and Safety Policy sets out how Liverpool Removals manages and promotes the health, safety, and welfare of employees, contractors, customers, visitors, and members of the public who may be affected by our moving and storage activities.

Our work involves the handling, lifting, and transporting of furniture, personal belongings, and business equipment. These activities can carry risks if not managed correctly. We are committed to maintaining safe systems of work so that our removal services are carried out as safely as reasonably practicable.

Policy Statement

Liverpool Removals is committed to ensuring, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare of everyone involved in or affected by our operations. We will provide and maintain safe working conditions, equipment, and practices, and we will actively promote a positive safety culture throughout the business.

This policy applies to all staff, including management, supervisors, drivers, porters, office staff, and contractors engaged by Liverpool Removals, whether working on customers premises, at our own premises, or on the road.

Management Responsibilities

Senior management has overall responsibility for implementing this Health and Safety Policy and for ensuring that adequate resources, training, and supervision are provided. Managers are responsible for:

Ensuring risk assessments are completed, recorded, and reviewed for key activities such as manual handling, loading and unloading vehicles, working on customers premises, and operating equipment.

Providing suitable work equipment that is properly maintained and inspected, including vehicles, trollies, lifting aids, ramps, and safety equipment.

Ensuring that staff receive appropriate induction and ongoing training and that they understand the procedures relevant to their role.

Monitoring health and safety performance, investigating incidents and near misses, and taking corrective action where required.

Reviewing this policy regularly and updating it when necessary to reflect changes in our operations, legislation, or best practice.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees of Liverpool Removals share responsibility for maintaining a safe working environment. Employees must:

Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions.

Follow all safety procedures, instructions, and training provided by the company.

Use equipment, vehicles, and personal protective equipment correctly and report any defects immediately.

Report hazards, accidents, incidents, or near misses to their supervisor as soon as possible.

Cooperate with management in implementing this Health and Safety Policy and participate in training and safety briefings.

Training, Information, and Supervision

Liverpool Removals will provide employees with appropriate information, instruction, and training to carry out their duties safely. This includes:

Induction training for new starters covering company safety rules, emergency procedures, safe driving expectations, and manual handling basics.

Role-specific training for drivers, porters, and supervisors, including safe loading, use of lifting aids, and working safely on customers premises.

Periodic refresher training and toolbox talks to reinforce key safety topics and share lessons learned from incidents and near misses.

Supervision appropriate to the level of risk, experience, and competence of staff, particularly for new or young workers.

Risk Assessments and Safe Working Practices

We identify and assess risks associated with our removal and transport services and implement control measures to reduce those risks. Risk assessments cover activities such as:

Manual handling of heavy, bulky, or awkward items.

Carrying items on stairs, through narrow passageways, and in confined spaces.

Loading and unloading vehicles in residential streets, business areas, and shared access points.

Driving, parking, and operating vehicles in varied traffic and weather conditions.

Working in customers homes, offices, and storage facilities, including awareness of trip hazards, fragile items, and security considerations.

Safe working procedures and method statements are developed from these assessments and are communicated to staff through training and supervision.

Manual Handling and Use of Equipment

Manual handling is a core part of our work, and we take care to reduce the risk of injury by:

Providing manual handling training that focuses on planning lifts, team lifting, posture, and the use of handling aids.

Using appropriate equipment such as dollies, sack trucks, furniture blankets, straps, and ramps where practicable.

Avoiding lone lifting of excessively heavy or awkward items and encouraging employees to request assistance whenever needed.

Ensuring that all equipment is regularly checked and maintained in safe working order.

Vehicle and Road Safety

Our vehicles are central to our removal operations. We promote safe driving and transport by:

Ensuring vehicles are properly maintained, taxed, and inspected in line with legal and manufacturer requirements.

Requiring drivers to carry out daily checks and report any defects without delay.

Ensuring loads are evenly distributed, securely restrained, and within safe weight limits.

Promoting safe driving standards, including adherence to speed limits, avoidance of distraction, and planning routes to minimise risk.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

Our teams often work in and around customers homes and business premises, as well as on public roads and shared access areas. We will:

Take reasonable steps to protect customers, neighbours, and members of the public from risk during removals.

Maintain clear access routes where possible and highlight trip hazards.

Secure doors, gates, or loading points as far as is practical to prevent unauthorised access to work areas.

Respect customers property and act promptly if any safety concerns are identified on site.

Accident, Incident, and Near Miss Reporting

All accidents, incidents, and near misses must be reported promptly to management. We will:

Record details of accidents and incidents in an accident record.

Investigate incidents to identify root causes and implement measures to prevent recurrence.

Meet applicable reporting requirements where serious incidents occur.

Use safety information to improve training, equipment, and procedures.

Health, Welfare, and Review

Liverpool Removals recognises the importance of general health and wellbeing. We will encourage staff to raise any health concerns that may impact their ability to work safely, including fatigue, stress, or physical limitations.

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and updated where necessary to reflect changes in our operations, legislation, or industry guidance. All employees will be informed of any significant changes and are expected to familiarise themselves with the current policy and associated procedures.

By working together and following this Health and Safety Policy, Liverpool Removals aims to provide reliable removal services while protecting the health and safety of our staff, customers, and the wider community.