Marble Arch Removals Health and Safety Policy

Marble Arch Removals is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, customers, contractors and members of the public who may be affected by our removals and relocation activities. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety across all services, including packing, loading, transport, unloading, storage handling and on-site visits.

Policy Aims and Objectives

Our primary aim is to prevent injury, ill health, property damage and environmental harm arising from our work. We will achieve this by identifying and controlling risks associated with removals work, ensuring staff competence and maintaining safe systems of work at all times.

Our objectives are to:

Promote a positive health and safety culture throughout the company. Comply with all applicable health and safety legislation and recognised industry best practice. Provide safe plant, vehicles, equipment and working methods. Reduce incidents, near‑misses and unsafe conditions through ongoing review and improvement. Ensure clear communication of safety responsibilities and expectations.

Management Responsibilities

The management of Marble Arch Removals has overall responsibility for health and safety performance within the business. Management will:

Implement and maintain this Health and Safety Policy. Ensure that risk assessments are carried out for all key activities, including manual handling, driving, working at height, use of equipment and work in customers homes or business premises. Provide appropriate resources, information, instruction, training and supervision to enable employees to carry out their work safely and competently. Ensure that all vehicles and equipment used in removals operations are properly maintained, inspected and fit for purpose. Investigate accidents, incidents and near‑misses promptly and thoroughly, taking corrective action to prevent recurrence. Review this policy regularly and update it when necessary to reflect changes in legislation, operations or best practice.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees have an important role in maintaining a safe working environment and are required to:

Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Follow all safety procedures and instructions provided by Marble Arch Removals. Use equipment, vehicles, tools and personal protective equipment correctly and report any defects immediately. Co‑operate with management in implementing this policy and any related safety arrangements. Report hazards, unsafe conditions, incidents and near‑misses without delay. Refrain from any act or omission that could endanger themselves, colleagues, customers or the public.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Marble Arch Removals will carry out suitable and sufficient risk assessments for its activities and work environments. These assessments will consider, as a minimum:

Manual handling of furniture, boxes and equipment. Use of lifting aids, trolleys and ramps. Loading and unloading of vehicles at properties, storage facilities and business premises. Vehicle movements, parking and access in residential and commercial streets. Working in confined spaces, stairwells, corridors and shared access areas. Weather conditions and lighting. Protection of vulnerable persons, including children, elderly customers and pets.

Based on these assessments, we will develop and implement safe systems of work, including method statements and specific controls, which will be communicated to all relevant staff.

Manual Handling and Use of Equipment

Manual handling is a core part of removals work and is a significant source of potential injury. Marble Arch Removals will minimise manual handling risks through task planning, team lifts where appropriate, and use of handling aids such as dollies, trolleys and lifting straps.

Employees will receive instruction on safe lifting techniques, posture, load assessment and team communication. No employee is expected to lift or carry any item they believe to be unsafe, excessive in weight or beyond their capability.

All equipment and tools will be inspected and maintained at regular intervals, and defective items will be taken out of service until repaired or replaced.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Our removals vehicles are essential to our operations and must be operated safely and responsibly at all times. Marble Arch Removals will ensure that drivers are competent, appropriately licensed and trained in safe driving techniques.

Vehicles will be subject to regular checks, servicing and inspections. Loads will be secured properly to prevent movement during transit, and vehicles will not be overloaded. Drivers must adhere to road traffic laws, observe speed limits and plan routes to minimise risk to themselves, their passengers, customers and other road users.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

Our teams frequently work in customers homes, offices and shared buildings. We recognise our duty to protect customers, neighbours, visitors and the general public from risks associated with our activities.

Our staff will take reasonable steps to maintain safe access and egress, manage trip hazards such as packing materials and equipment, control vehicle movements and use warning signs or barriers where appropriate. Noise, dust and disruption will be kept to a minimum as far as is reasonably practicable.

Training, Information and Supervision

Marble Arch Removals is committed to providing appropriate health and safety training to all employees. This includes induction training for new starters, role‑specific training for operational staff, refresher training and toolbox talks on key risks such as manual handling, vehicle safety and working in customers premises.

Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for monitoring safe working practices on site, providing clear instructions, and intervening where unsafe behaviour or conditions are identified.

Incident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, injuries, near‑misses, vehicle incidents and cases of damage to property must be reported promptly to management. Marble Arch Removals will maintain an accident record, investigate incidents and implement corrective and preventive actions.

Emergency procedures for fire, first aid, evacuation and serious incidents will be in place and communicated to staff. Employees must familiarise themselves with these procedures and act in accordance with instructions in the event of an emergency.

Consultation and Continuous Improvement

Marble Arch Removals encourages open communication on health and safety matters. Employees are invited to raise concerns, suggest improvements and participate in discussions about safe working practices. Feedback from customers and staff will be reviewed to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains effective, relevant and aligned with our commitment to safe, professional removals services across our operating area.