Moving Company Safety Manual

Moving Company Workplace Hazards

Moving employees may encounter several hazards during a single job.

Common hazards include:

• Heavy and awkward lifting
• Repetitive material handling
• Furniture and appliance moving
• Stairs and narrow passageways
• Slips, trips, and falls
• Falling or shifting loads
• Pinch and crush points
• Hand and foot injuries
• Moving trucks and trailers
• Loading ramps
• Liftgates
• Dollies and hand trucks
• Loading docks
• Vehicle accidents
• Backing
• Customer properties
• Heat and cold stress
• Working around the public
• Working alone or in small crews

Employees should receive training appropriate to the moving activities, vehicles, equipment, and hazards they may encounter.

Pre-Move Safety Assessment

Before beginning a move, employees should evaluate the work area and determine how items can be moved safely.

The assessment should consider:

• Size and weight of items
• Stairs
• Elevators
• Doorways
• Hallways
• Floor conditions
• Changes in elevation
• Loading distance
• Parking location
• Traffic
• Weather
• Required equipment
• Number of employees needed
• Unusual or especially heavy items

Hazards should be discussed with the crew before difficult moving activities begin.

Manual Lifting

Manual lifting is a major part of moving operations and should be planned rather than performed by trial and error.

Before lifting, employees should consider the load’s:

• Weight
• Size
• Shape
• Stability
• Center of gravity
• Available handholds
• Destination
• Travel path

When practical, employees should:

• Position themselves close to the load.
• Establish stable footing.
• Use a secure grip.
• Keep the load reasonably close to the body.
• Avoid unnecessary twisting.
• Turn with the feet.
• Coordinate team lifts.
• Use mechanical assistance.

Employees should not attempt to lift or carry an item they cannot safely control.

Team Lifting

Large, heavy, or awkward items may require two or more employees.

Before a team lift, employees should agree on:

• Who will direct the movement
• Lifting sequence
• Travel path
• Turning points
• Stairs or elevation changes
• Set-down location
• Communication commands

One employee should coordinate the lift when necessary.

Employees should communicate before lifting, lowering, turning, stopping, or changing direction.

Furniture Moving

Furniture may be heavy, awkward, unstable, difficult to grip, or capable of shifting unexpectedly.

Before moving furniture:

• Remove loose components when practical.
• Secure drawers and doors.
• Identify fragile components.
• Determine the item’s center of gravity.
• Evaluate the travel path.
• Select appropriate moving equipment.
• Obtain sufficient assistance.

Employees should protect their hands and feet from pinch and crush hazards while maneuvering furniture through doors, around corners, and onto vehicles.

Appliance Moving

Refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, ranges, and other appliances can present significant material-handling hazards.

Employees should:

• Determine the approximate weight.
• Disconnect utilities only when trained and authorized.
• Secure doors and loose components.
• Use an appropriate appliance dolly or other equipment.
• Use straps as intended.
• Maintain control on stairs and slopes.
• Obtain additional assistance when necessary.

Employees should not attempt electrical, gas, plumbing, or other utility work beyond their training and authorization.

Specialty & Unusually Heavy Items

Pianos, safes, large equipment, exercise machines, commercial appliances, and similar items may require specialized procedures.

Before moving unusually heavy or difficult items, the company should determine whether specialized equipment, additional employees, or outside assistance is required.

Employees should not improvise methods that expose them to uncontrolled crushing, falling, or lifting hazards.

Dollies & Hand Trucks

Dollies and hand trucks should be appropriate for the load and inspected before use.

Employees should check for:

• Damaged wheels
• Loose components
• Defective handles
• Damaged frames
• Worn straps
• Other unsafe conditions

Loads should be balanced and secured as appropriate.

Employees should maintain control of loaded equipment and use extra caution on ramps, slopes, thresholds, and uneven surfaces.

Moving Straps & Carrying Equipment

Moving straps, lifting harnesses, and similar equipment should be used only by employees who understand their proper application.

Equipment should be inspected for:

• Cuts
• Tears
• Fraying
• Damaged hardware
• Excessive wear

Employees should ensure that straps are properly positioned and that all members of the lifting team understand the planned movement before applying the load.

Moving Blankets & Protective Materials

Moving blankets, pads, shrink wrap, and other protective materials can reduce property damage but may also create tripping hazards.

Employees should:

• Keep unused materials out of walkways.
• Remove discarded wrapping promptly.
• Avoid allowing blankets to obscure stairs or walking surfaces.
• Secure protective materials appropriately.

Housekeeping should be maintained throughout the move.

Stairs

Moving heavy items on stairs requires careful planning.

Before using stairs, employees should evaluate:

• Stair width
• Handrails
• Landings
• Lighting
• Surface condition
• Turns
• Head clearance
• Item dimensions
• Number of employees needed

Employees should maintain communication throughout the movement.

Items that cannot be safely controlled on stairs should be moved using another method.

Doorways, Hallways & Tight Spaces

Tight spaces can create pinch points, awkward body positions, poor visibility, and limited escape routes.

Employees should:

• Measure or evaluate clearance when necessary.
• Remove obstacles.
• Protect hands and fingers.
• Communicate before turning or repositioning loads.
• Avoid forcing oversized items through restricted areas.
• Use additional assistance when visibility is limited.

Elevators

Employees using elevators should verify that the elevator is appropriate for the intended load.

Employees should:

• Observe posted capacity limits.
• Maintain control of carts and dollies.
• Keep loads stable.
• Avoid blocking doors unnecessarily.
• Coordinate with building management when required.

Freight elevators should be used when appropriate and available.

Ramps

Loading ramps can create fall, runaway-load, and material-handling hazards.

Before use, employees should verify that the ramp:

• Is properly positioned
• Is adequately secured
• Has sufficient capacity
• Is free of damage
• Has a suitable surface
• Provides an appropriate slope for the load and equipment

Employees should maintain control of loads while traveling up or down ramps and should not stand where an uncontrolled load could strike or crush them.

Liftgate Safety

Employees using powered liftgates should receive appropriate instruction.

Employees should:

• Inspect the liftgate before use.
• Maintain stable footing.
• Keep clear of pinch points.
• Position loads securely.
• Stay within rated capacity.
• Keep unauthorized persons away.
• Operate controls from a safe position.
• Report defects promptly.

Employees should never position themselves beneath an unsupported liftgate or elevated load.

Loading the Moving Truck

Truck loading should be planned to protect employees and maintain vehicle stability.

Employees should consider:

• Weight distribution
• Heavy-item placement
• Load stability
• Fragile items
• Access to cargo
• Load securement
• Falling-object hazards
• Vehicle capacity

Heavy items should be positioned and secured to reduce the possibility of movement during transportation.

Cargo Securement

Furniture, appliances, boxes, equipment, carts, and other items should be secured to prevent hazardous movement.

Employees should use appropriate:

• Straps
• Load bars
• Tie-downs
• Blocking
• Bracing
• Other securement methods

Securement equipment should be inspected before use.

Employees should use caution when opening cargo doors because loads may have shifted during transportation.

Unloading

Before unloading, employees should assess whether cargo shifted during transportation.

Employees should:

• Open doors cautiously.
• Keep clear of potential falling objects.
• Establish a safe unloading area.
• Position ramps or liftgates properly.
• Maintain communication.
• Use appropriate material-handling equipment.

Unloading should be planned rather than allowing employees to remove items in an unstable sequence.

Pinch & Crush Hazards

Moving operations frequently place employees near pinch and crush points.

Hazards may occur:

• Between furniture and walls
• In doorways
• Around dollies
• Under appliances
• At liftgates
• Between loads
• Around truck doors
• On ramps
• During team lifts

Employees should keep hands, feet, and other body parts away from locations where movement could trap or crush them.

Hand & Foot Protection

Hands and feet are particularly vulnerable during moving operations.

Employees should avoid placing fingers underneath loads or using their feet to stop falling or shifting items.

Appropriate gloves and footwear should be selected based on the work being performed.

Slips, Trips & Falls

Moving employees frequently work on surfaces that have not been selected or maintained by the company.

Potential hazards include:

• Stairs
• Wet floors
• Ice and snow
• Uneven pavement
• Loose rugs
• Cords
• Clutter
• Moving materials
• Loading ramps
• Curbs
• Poor lighting

Employees should identify and control hazards when practical before carrying heavy or vision-obstructing loads through an area.

Housekeeping

Moving materials, packaging, blankets, straps, tools, and boxes should be kept out of walking and working areas when not in use.

Employees should:

• Maintain clear travel paths.
• Remove packaging materials.
• Keep ramps clear.
• Maintain access to exits.
• Correct spills promptly.
• Store equipment securely.

Good housekeeping is especially important when employees repeatedly travel between a building and moving vehicle.

Customer Homes & Residential Properties

Residential moves may expose employees to unfamiliar stairs, pets, children, damaged flooring, narrow passages, poor lighting, and other hazards.

Employees should:

• Survey the work area.
• Identify unsafe walking surfaces.
• Keep access routes clear.
• Maintain awareness of children and animals.
• Request that significant hazards be controlled when practical.
• Avoid entering areas presenting uncontrolled serious hazards.

Commercial Moving Locations

Office, warehouse, industrial, healthcare, and other commercial moves may expose employees to additional site-specific hazards.

Employees should follow applicable customer-site requirements involving:

• Restricted areas
• Vehicle traffic
• Loading docks
• Elevators
• Machinery
• Construction
• Hazardous materials
• Security
• PPE

Employees should obtain clarification before entering unfamiliar restricted or hazardous areas.

Working Around the Public

Employees may work around customers, building occupants, pedestrians, contractors, and other members of the public.

Work areas should be managed to prevent members of the public from entering hazardous loading, lifting, or equipment-use areas when practical.

Employees should maintain professional communication and avoid creating unnecessary hazards in shared areas.

Driver Safety

Only appropriately licensed, trained, and authorized employees should operate company vehicles.

Drivers should:

• Wear seat belts.
• Obey traffic laws.
• Maintain safe following distance.
• Adjust speed for conditions.
• Account for vehicle size and weight.
• Use additional caution when turning.
• Monitor blind spots.
• Avoid distractions.
• Report unsafe vehicle conditions.

Moving schedules should not encourage unsafe driving.

Defensive Driving

Drivers should anticipate changing traffic conditions and the actions of other road users.

Larger moving trucks may require greater:

• Stopping distance
• Turning clearance
• Following distance
• Overhead clearance
• Space for lane changes

Drivers should understand the handling characteristics of the vehicles they operate.

Distracted Driving

Drivers should avoid activities that interfere with safe vehicle operation.

Mobile phones, navigation systems, customer communications, dispatch instructions, and paperwork should be handled while safely parked whenever practical.

Backing Safety

Backing should be minimized when practical.

Before backing, drivers should:

• Check behind and around the vehicle.
• Identify pedestrians and obstacles.
• Use mirrors and cameras.
• Back slowly.
• Use a spotter when available and appropriate.

The driver should stop if the backing path becomes uncertain.

Vehicle Inspection

Moving trucks and other company vehicles should be inspected at appropriate intervals.

Inspections may include:

• Tires and wheels
• Brakes
• Lights
• Mirrors
• Windshield and wipers
• Steering
• Seat belts
• Doors
• Cargo areas
• Ramps
• Liftgates
• Steps
• Grab handles
• Safety equipment
• Fluid leaks

Unsafe conditions should be reported and corrected.

Parking at Moving Locations

Vehicle positioning can significantly affect moving safety.

Drivers should consider:

• Traffic
• Driveways
• Slopes
• Overhead clearance
• Pedestrians
• Loading distance
• Ramp positioning
• Emergency access
• Neighboring properties

The vehicle should be positioned to reduce unnecessary material-handling distance and traffic exposure when practical.

Loading Docks

Commercial moves may require employees to work around loading docks.

Hazards can include:

• Dock edges
• Moving trucks
• Forklifts
• Dock plates
• Trailers
• Pedestrian traffic
• Poor lighting

Employees should remain alert and follow site-specific dock procedures.

Warehouse & Storage Facility Safety

Moving companies that operate warehouses or storage facilities should maintain safe procedures for:

• Material storage
• Aisles
• Racking
• Housekeeping
• Loading docks
• Fire protection
• Forklift operations
• Pedestrian traffic
• Emergency exits

Stored materials should be stable and should not obstruct required access or emergency equipment.

Heat Stress

Moving furniture and boxes is physically demanding work and may be performed outdoors, inside hot trucks, or in buildings without adequate cooling.

Heat-illness prevention measures may include:

• Adequate drinking water
• Rest periods
• Cooling opportunities
• Acclimatization
• Appropriate clothing
• Monitoring for symptoms
• Emergency response

Employees should be trained to recognize signs and symptoms of heat-related illness.

Cold Stress

Moving work may continue during cold, wet, snowy, or windy conditions.

Employees should use appropriate clothing and take precautions against:

• Hypothermia
• Frostbite
• Reduced dexterity
• Ice
• Snow
• Wet walking surfaces

Severe Weather

Moving operations may be affected by:

• Thunderstorms
• High winds
• Heavy rain
• Flooding
• Snow
• Ice
• Extreme heat
• Extreme cold

Work should be modified, delayed, or suspended when weather conditions create unacceptable hazards.

Fatigue Management

Long moves, driving, early starts, overtime, and physically demanding work can contribute to fatigue.

Fatigue can affect:

• Driving
• Lifting
• Balance
• Communication
• Judgment
• Reaction time

Employees should report when fatigue may prevent them from safely performing assigned work.

Personal Protective Equipment

Required PPE should reflect the tasks and hazards.

PPE may include:

• Work gloves
• Safety footwear
• High-visibility apparel
• Eye protection
• Hearing protection
• Weather-protective clothing
• Other task-specific protection

Employees should inspect PPE and replace damaged equipment when necessary.

Hazard Communication

Moving employees may occasionally encounter chemicals, cleaning products, fuels, batteries, or other hazardous materials during company operations.

Employees should understand applicable:

• Labels
• Safety Data Sheets
• Protective measures
• Spill procedures
• Emergency procedures

Employees should not move leaking, unidentified, or otherwise hazardous materials unless appropriate arrangements have been made.

Items Requiring Special Handling

Some customer property may require additional evaluation before transportation.

Examples include:

• Flammable materials
• Compressed gas cylinders
• Chemicals
• Batteries
• Firearms
• Ammunition
• Hazardous waste
• Medical materials
• Other regulated or dangerous goods

The company should establish procedures identifying materials it will not transport or that require special arrangements.

Employees should not knowingly load prohibited or unsafe materials.

Working Alone

Some moving activities, estimates, pickups, deliveries, or warehouse work may involve employees working alone.

Procedures may address:

• Communication
• Check-in requirements
• Customer locations
• Emergency assistance
• Vehicle breakdowns
• Injuries
• Threatening situations

Employees should know how to obtain assistance when needed.

Workplace Violence & Security

Moving employees may enter unfamiliar homes, businesses, neighborhoods, and storage locations.

Employees should:

• Maintain awareness of surroundings.
• Avoid escalating confrontations.
• Report threatening behavior.
• Maintain access to an exit when practical.
• Leave locations that become unsafe.
• Contact law enforcement when necessary.

Employee safety should take priority over protecting customer property or completing a move.

Emergency Procedures

Moving companies should establish procedures for foreseeable emergencies such as:

• Employee injuries
• Vehicle accidents
• Vehicle breakdowns
• Fires
• Severe weather
• Chemical spills
• Workplace violence
• Medical emergencies
• Equipment failures

Employees should understand reporting and notification requirements.

Incident Reporting & Investigation

Employees should promptly report:

• Injuries
• Vehicle accidents
• Property-damage incidents
• Equipment failures
• Near misses
• Workplace violence
• Hazardous conditions
• Other significant safety events

Investigations should consider contributing factors such as:

• Lifting practices
• Equipment
• Staffing
• Vehicle operation
• Customer-site conditions
• Training
• Fatigue
• Communication
• Procedures

Corrective actions should address underlying causes where practical.

Moving Company Safety Training

Training should reflect employee responsibilities and foreseeable hazards.

Training may include:

• Manual lifting
• Team lifting
• Furniture and appliance moving
• Ergonomics
• Dollies and hand trucks
• Moving straps
• Ramp safety
• Liftgate safety
• Loading and unloading
• Cargo securement
• Pinch and crush hazards
• Stair safety
• Driver safety
• Defensive driving
• Backing
• Vehicle inspection
• Customer-site safety
• Heat and cold stress
• PPE
• Hazard Communication
• Workplace violence prevention
• Emergency procedures
• Incident reporting

Employees should receive additional training when new vehicles, equipment, procedures, or hazards are introduced.

Customized Moving Company Safety Manuals

Moving companies vary in vehicle size, equipment, services, staffing, customer locations, storage operations, and the types of items they handle. Residential movers, commercial movers, long-distance moving companies, office relocation companies, and specialty movers may require different combinations of safety programs.

A customized Moving Company Safety Manual can be developed around your company’s moving services, vehicles, lifting and material-handling activities, equipment, customer locations, storage operations, and employee exposures.