Barnes Removals Health and Safety Policy

Barnes Removals is committed to conducting all removal, packing, storage and transportation activities in a manner that ensures the health, safety and welfare of our employees, customers, contractors and the general public. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety risks associated with domestic and commercial removals and related services.

1. Policy Statement and Objectives

Our objective is to prevent injury and ill health arising from our work activities and to provide safe and healthy working conditions for everyone who may be affected by our operations. Health and safety is an integral part of how we plan and deliver our services, from initial survey through to final unloading and placement of goods.

We will take all reasonably practicable steps to:

Identify hazards and assess risks in all areas of our removal and transport activities.

Eliminate hazards where possible and reduce remaining risks to acceptable levels.

Provide and maintain safe vehicles, equipment and systems of work.

Ensure our staff are competent, trained and supervised to carry out their tasks safely.

Consult with employees and encourage the reporting of hazards, near misses and incidents.

2. Legal Compliance and Responsibilities

Barnes Removals will comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and industry guidance applicable to moving, lifting, transport and storage operations.

Overall responsibility for health and safety lies with the company management, who are responsible for ensuring that appropriate resources, training and monitoring are in place. Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for implementing this policy on site and for promoting a positive safety culture within their teams.

All employees, subcontractors and agency staff have a duty to:

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

Follow all safety procedures, site rules and instructions provided by Barnes Removals.

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

Report accidents, incidents and near misses promptly so that corrective action can be taken.

3. Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We carry out risk assessments for our core removal activities, including packing, lifting, carrying, loading, transportation and unloading. Site specific risks such as access constraints, stairs, lifts, parking and traffic management are assessed during survey and on arrival at each property or premises.

Based on these assessments, we develop and implement safe systems of work, which may include:

Use of appropriate lifting techniques and team lifting for heavy or awkward items.

Use of trolleys, dollies, ramps and other handling aids where suitable.

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

Planning of routes and parking to minimise reversing and vehicle movements near pedestrians.

Segregation of work areas where possible to protect customers, neighbours and the public.

4. Manual Handling and Ergonomics

Manual handling is central to removal work and is a key focus of our safety management. We will:

Provide training in safe lifting and carrying techniques.

Assess the weight, size and shape of items before moving them.

Ensure that tasks involving heavy or bulky furniture and equipment are adequately staffed.

Encourage staff to refuse unsafe lifts and to request additional help or equipment where needed.

Plan work to minimise carrying distances, stair climbs and awkward postures.

5. Vehicles, Equipment and Maintenance

We are committed to maintaining our vehicles and equipment in a safe and roadworthy condition. This includes:

Regular inspections and servicing of removal vehicles in line with manufacturer recommendations.

Routine checks of brakes, lights, tyres, securing points and tail lifts.

Inspection and maintenance of lifting equipment, ramps and trolleys.

Safe storage, handling and use of any fuel, oils or cleaning products associated with vehicles and equipment.

Only authorised and competent drivers are permitted to operate our vehicles and lifting equipment.

6. Information, Instruction, Training and Supervision

Barnes Removals will provide employees with the information, instruction and training necessary to work safely and to protect others. This includes:

Induction training covering company safety rules, emergency arrangements and reporting procedures.

Task specific training in manual handling, use of handling aids, use of vehicles and equipment, and loading and unloading practices.

Ongoing refresher training and toolbox talks to reinforce key safety messages.

Supervision appropriate to the level of risk and experience of the staff involved.

7. Customer and Public Safety

We recognise our duty to protect customers, visitors, neighbours and members of the public from risks arising from our work. To achieve this we will:

Plan access routes within properties to reduce the risk of collisions and trips.

Keep work areas as tidy as reasonably practicable, managing trailing cables, packing materials and waste.

Where appropriate, use signs or verbal warnings to highlight moving operations or restricted areas.

Park and manoeuvre vehicles in a way that minimises obstruction and risk to pedestrians and other road users.

8. Incident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, injuries, near misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported to management as soon as possible. We will investigate incidents to identify causes and implement measures to prevent recurrence.

Emergency arrangements, including fire, first aid and evacuation procedures, will be communicated to staff and followed at all locations where we are working. Staff are required to familiarise themselves with local emergency procedures on arrival at each site.

9. Consultation and Continuous Improvement

Barnes Removals encourages open communication on health and safety matters. Employees are invited to raise concerns, suggest improvements and participate in discussions about how to work more safely and efficiently.

We regularly review our risk assessments, training and procedures in light of changes in legislation, industry best practice, operational experience and feedback from staff and customers. Lessons learned from incidents or near misses are shared with relevant teams.

10. Policy Review and Availability

This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed periodically and updated as necessary to ensure it remains relevant and effective for our removal operations and service area. Any significant changes will be communicated to employees and contractors.

The policy is available to employees and is provided to customers or other interested parties on request so that they can understand the standards we apply to all Barnes Removals services.