Sutton Removals Health and Safety Policy

This Health and Safety Policy sets out how Sutton Removals manages health, safety and welfare for our employees, customers, contractors and members of the public. It applies to all removal and delivery activities carried out by our team, including packing, loading, transport, unloading and storage work across our service areas.

Our Commitment to Health and Safety

Sutton Removals is committed to providing a working environment where risks are identified, controlled and, where reasonably practicable, removed. We will take all reasonable steps to prevent injury, ill health, damage to property and harm to the environment arising from our operations.

We aim to continually improve our health and safety performance and to promote a positive safety culture throughout the company. Every member of staff, from management to crew, is expected to take responsibility for working safely and for protecting others who may be affected by our activities.

Roles and Responsibilities

The company management has overall responsibility for ensuring that this Health and Safety Policy is implemented, monitored and reviewed. Management will provide appropriate resources, information, instruction and supervision to support safe working practices across all removal jobs.

Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for ensuring that risk assessments, safe systems of work and company procedures are followed on every job. They will check that staff are trained, that equipment is suitable and maintained, and that work is planned in a way that reduces risk.

Every employee has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others. Staff must follow safe working procedures, use equipment correctly, wear any required personal protective equipment and report hazards, near misses and incidents without delay.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Before removal work begins, Sutton Removals will carry out appropriate risk assessments for the tasks involved. This may include assessing access routes, stairways, parking arrangements, lifting requirements, fragile items, weather conditions and any other relevant factors.

From these assessments, safe working practices will be developed and communicated to the team. Where necessary, site specific assessments will take place on arrival at a customer property so that the crew can adapt their methods if new hazards are identified.

Risk assessments and working procedures are reviewed regularly and after any incident, near miss or significant change in work methods, equipment or locations.

Manual Handling and Safe Lifting

Manual handling is a key part of removal work. Sutton Removals will provide training on safe lifting techniques, team lifting, use of trolleys and other handling equipment, and how to recognise when a load is too heavy or awkward to move safely.

Employees must not attempt to lift or carry items beyond their capability and should always use the most appropriate equipment available. Heavy or bulky items must be moved using team lifts, where loads are shared and communication is clear throughout the movement.

Work will be planned so that routes are clear, tripping hazards are removed and adequate space is available to manoeuvre furniture and goods without risk of injury or damage.

Vehicles, Driving and Transport Safety

Sutton Removals will ensure that vehicles used in our operations are suitable, roadworthy, regularly serviced and inspected. Drivers must hold the appropriate licences, follow road traffic laws and adhere to company driving standards at all times.

Loads will be planned, distributed and secured correctly so that they cannot move in transit. Where access is restricted, our team will plan the safest method of approach, parking and loading, taking care to protect pedestrians, property and other road users.

Drivers and crew members are responsible for conducting basic checks of vehicles before use and for reporting any defects or concerns so that they can be addressed promptly.

Equipment, Tools and Personal Protective Equipment

We will provide suitable equipment and tools for the safe performance of our removal services. This may include trolleys, dollies, straps, furniture blankets, ramps and other specialist items as required for particular jobs.

All equipment will be used in accordance with training and manufacturer guidance. Any defective or damaged equipment must be removed from service immediately and reported to management.

Where required, personal protective equipment such as safety footwear and gloves will be provided and must be worn as instructed. Employees are responsible for taking reasonable care of any equipment issued to them and for reporting loss or damage.

Work Environment and Housekeeping

Safe housekeeping is essential to prevent trips, slips and falls in both customer properties and working areas. Our teams will keep routes clear, avoid leaving tools and materials in walkways and take care when working on stairs, ramps and uneven surfaces.

During work, we will take reasonable steps to protect floors, walls, fixtures and fittings, and to maintain safe access and exit routes for customers and other occupants.

Training, Supervision and Communication

Sutton Removals will ensure that all employees receive appropriate health and safety training for their roles, including induction training, on the job instruction and refresher training when needed.

Supervision levels will be appropriate to the complexity and risk of the work. Less experienced staff will be closely supervised until they are competent to work more independently.

We encourage open communication about safety. Employees are expected to raise any concerns, hazards or ideas for improvement with their supervisor or management. No one will be disadvantaged for reporting a genuine safety concern.

Accidents, Incidents and Near Misses

All accidents, injuries, dangerous occurrences and near misses, however minor, must be reported to management as soon as possible. Sutton Removals will record and investigate incidents to identify root causes and introduce measures to prevent recurrence.

Where necessary, medical attention will be sought promptly and follow up support will be provided to affected staff. Lessons learned from incidents will be shared with the team to help improve safety across all future work.

Customer and Public Safety

We recognise our duty to protect customers and members of the public from risks arising from our operations. Our crews will work considerately in and around customer homes and premises, keeping work areas organised and clearly communicating when lifting, carrying or moving large items.

Where there is potential for increased risk, such as moving items through shared corridors, stairwells or public areas, additional precautions will be taken to maintain safe routes and visibility.

Monitoring, Review and Policy Updates

Sutton Removals will monitor health and safety performance through regular inspections, feedback, incident reports and staff consultation. This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed periodically and updated when there are changes in legislation, company structure, work practices or identified risks.

All employees are informed when significant changes are made to this policy or to associated procedures. The latest version of the policy is made available to staff and can be shared with customers on request.

By working together and following this Health and Safety Policy, Sutton Removals aims to deliver reliable removal services while protecting the wellbeing of everyone involved in or affected by our work.