Health and Safety Responsibilities When Moving House

Todays Health and Safety regulations have had a huge impact on people employing workmen when needing jobs done in our own homes.

In times past the phrase of using ones common sense was often referred to yet, workmen have often been confronted by a past DIY job which amazes the professionals who are more aware of the dangers of a task done wrongly and correct solutions available.

Homeowners have a responsibility to ensure that they have not created obstacles and hazards by their own homespun solutions. In responding to today’s regulations Removal Companies have to ensure that they meet the regulations fully and are taking every care to protect their workforce.

Removal operatives are forbidden to enter loft space that is not boarded and lit. They must not use loft ladders that have not been professionally installed.

The removal company will need to make an inspection of the loading address and ask questions about the delivery address to check on access as well as to ensure that that the correct handling and packing methods and equipment is available for difficult or unusual items. The removal foremen are trained to do further Health and Safety inspections before proceeding with individual movement situations.

People planning to move should consider the obvious hazards such as emptying petrol from mowers, ensuring no inflammable or caustic liquids are placed for moving in sheds or garages – often items long forgotten in an old unmarked container!  Loft spaces should be emptied. Ensure that no wardrobes or tall cupboards have any loose items laid flat on top of them, such as glass or mirrors as these can cause injury.

Ensure that paths are clean and cleared of obstacles, overgrown foliage should be cut back where necessary and uneven paths identified. Remember that in the winter months early evening darkness can increase hazards when paths and areas at the front of the house are not lit if you know this is the case point it out to the remover who may well want to adjust the removal timetable accordingly.

A final hint – deep freezers were never designed by the manufacturers to be a portable home to frozen food, indeed most are fragile plastic liners which are very brittle when frozen. Moving the fridge with a frozen compartment can cause cracking and whilst some people take the risk because it is an old freezer they forget that there is not just the uninsured damage to the freezer itself but the subsequent potentially very serious risk of food poisoning or salmonella if food has become defrosted and refrozen without you realising or if some cracks have opened in the freezer lining. Makers instructions should always be followed and professional movers recommend that freezers are completely defrosted and cleaned before being moved. Most manufacturers recommend that the freezer is allowed to stand for 24 hours in its new position to allow the fluids to settle before plugging into the power supply.