Health and Safety policy
Soho Movers Health and Safety Policy
Soho Movers is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for all employees, contractors, customers and members of the public who may be affected by our removal services. Our operations involve manual handling, vehicle use and work at a variety of locations, and we recognise our duty to manage these activities responsibly and reduce risks so far as is reasonably practicable.
This Health and Safety Policy sets out the principles, responsibilities and arrangements that guide how we plan and deliver our services. It applies to all Soho Movers activities, including household removals, commercial moves, packing, loading, transportation, unloading and storage-related work.
Our Health and Safety Commitment
Soho Movers will actively promote a culture where health and safety are integral to every task. We aim to prevent injury, ill health, damage to property and harm to the environment by:
Identifying hazards and assessing risks associated with our removal activities. Implementing appropriate control measures to reduce those risks. Providing suitable information, instruction, training and supervision. Maintaining safe equipment, vehicles and working practices. Continually reviewing and improving our health and safety performance.
Health and safety considerations take priority over operational or commercial pressures. All employees are expected to support these aims and act with care and responsibility at all times.
Management Responsibilities
Senior management at Soho Movers has overall responsibility for health and safety within the company. This includes:
Establishing, maintaining and periodically reviewing this policy. Ensuring adequate resources are provided to implement the policy. Setting clear health and safety objectives for the business. Ensuring that risk assessments are carried out and updated regularly. Monitoring compliance and taking corrective action where necessary.
Managers and supervisors are responsible for implementing this policy on a day-to-day basis, ensuring that safe systems of work are followed, staff are properly trained, and any issues are promptly addressed.
Employee Responsibilities
All Soho Movers employees share responsibility for maintaining a safe working environment. Every member of staff is 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, training and instructions provided. Use equipment, vehicles and protective gear correctly and report defects immediately. Report hazards, near misses, incidents and injuries without delay. Co operate with management in implementing safety measures and improvements.
No employee should undertake any activity for which they have not been trained or which they believe cannot be carried out safely. Concerns about safety must be raised with a supervisor or manager at once.
Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices
Soho Movers conducts risk assessments for key tasks involved in our removal services, including packing, lifting, carrying, loading, unloading, driving and working at customer premises or storage locations.
From these assessments we develop safe working practices, which may include planning access routes, restricting loads to safe weights, using mechanical aids where appropriate, and ensuring adequate staffing levels for heavy or awkward items. These procedures are communicated to all relevant staff and are regularly reviewed to reflect changes in work methods, equipment or legislation.
Manual Handling and Use of Equipment
Manual handling is a core element of removal work and presents significant risk if not properly managed. Soho Movers minimises manual handling risks by:
Providing training on correct lifting and carrying techniques. Encouraging the use of team lifts for heavy or bulky items. Using suitable equipment such as trolleys, dollies and ramps where appropriate. Planning work so that unnecessary carrying and awkward movements are reduced.
All equipment is selected for suitability, maintained in good condition, and taken out of service if any defect that could affect safety is identified. Employees must never modify equipment or use it for purposes other than those intended.
Vehicle and Driving Safety
Soho Movers is committed to safe driving and the safe operation of all vehicles used in our services. We ensure that vehicles are regularly inspected, maintained and kept roadworthy, with any faults reported immediately and rectified promptly.
Drivers must hold the appropriate valid licence, follow road traffic rules and company driving procedures, and never drive under the influence of alcohol, drugs or any substance that could impair performance. Journey planning will allow adequate time to avoid unsafe rushing or fatigue, and loads must be properly secured before travel.
Customer Premises and Public Safety
Our teams work at a range of customer locations, including homes, offices and other premises. Soho Movers will take reasonable steps to protect customers, visitors and the public from risks arising from our operations by:
Planning safe access and egress routes for moving items. Using warning signs or verbal warnings where necessary. Avoiding blocking fire exits or escape routes. Keeping work areas as tidy and organised as practicable during moves.
Where particular site hazards are identified, such as uneven surfaces, restricted spaces or shared access with other users, these will be assessed and suitable control measures put in place.
Training, Information and Supervision
Soho Movers provides appropriate health and safety training to all employees on induction and at regular intervals thereafter. Training covers relevant topics such as manual handling, equipment use, vehicle safety, site-specific risks and incident reporting.
Employees receive clear instructions for their tasks and are supervised to ensure that procedures are followed, especially when they are new to a role or undertaking unfamiliar work. Additional training is provided when there are changes in work methods, equipment or legislation.
Incident Reporting and Emergency Procedures
All accidents, injuries, near misses and hazardous occurrences involving Soho Movers staff or operations must be reported as soon as possible. This allows prompt action to be taken and helps us learn lessons to prevent recurrence.
Emergency procedures, including responses to fire, serious injury, vehicle accidents and other urgent situations, are communicated to staff. Employees must familiarise themselves with these procedures, follow instructions given during an emergency and cooperate fully with any investigation.
Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement
Soho Movers regularly monitors health and safety performance through inspections, incident analysis, feedback from staff and ongoing review of risk assessments. We are committed to continuous improvement and will update this policy and our procedures when necessary to reflect changes in operations, technology or best practice.
This Health and Safety Policy is approved by senior management and is communicated to all employees. It is made available to customers and other interested parties on request, demonstrating our commitment to safe, professional and responsible removal services.
