Prepare goods for removal

This standard outlines the skills and knowledge required to prepare a wide range of goods for removal.

It applies both household and business moves and includes domestic and international destinations. 

Effective preparation ensures items are safe, secure, and ready for transport, and involves a systematic approach that may include the safe disconnection of appliances, dismantling furniture, applying appropriate protective coverings, completing inventories, and accurately labelling all items.

The standard emphasises the importance of using correct tools, materials, and techniques to prevent damage, protect goods during handling and transit, and meet organisational procedures, legal requirements, and industry codes of practice.

This standard is relevant to all operatives who prepare goods for removal as part of their job role.

1. maintain the health and safety of yourself and others at all times, in line with the relevant legislation and organisational requirements
2. assess risks before starting and throughout the activity, in accordance with the Risk Assessment, taking action to minimise risks and reporting them in line with organisational procedures
3. confirm that the required personal protective equipment (PPE) is worn at all times in line with organisational procedures
4. confirm that the relevant training has been received to carry out the work, recognise the limits of your competence and seek access to further training where required
5. maintain effective communication with colleagues and customers when carrying out the work
6. check that appliances and other items of equipment are ready for removal, including disconnection and cleaning where required
7. dismantle large items to facilitate removal using appropriate tools and techniques, following manufacturers’ guidance and organisational procedures and retaining information, such as photographs, to aid reassembly
8. retain all screws, bolts and other items required for reassembly and label and store carefully in line with organisational procedures
9. protect furniture and other items from damage during movement and loading using suitable protective coverings in line with organisational procedures and export packing requirements where relevant
10. remove shelves, racks, drawers and other removable parts where appropriate and wrap separately to avoid loss or damage
11. protect glass and mirrors with tape and wrap thoroughly in protective wrapping in line with organisational procedures
12. protect sofas, chairs and mattresses using suitable protective coverings in line with organisational procedures
13. use suitable protective coverings for TVs, monitors and pictures in line with organisational procedures
14. check that smaller items are safely packed into suitable packing containers and securely sealed in line with organisational procedures and industry best practice
15. check that all items are documented on the inventory in line with organisational procedures and industry best practice
16. record existing damage to goods, and building, (walls, floors, doorways) using suitable methods in line with organisational procedures
17. deal effectively with issues that arise within the scope and limitations of your own responsibilities and competence and report issues which cannot be resolved in line with organisational procedures
18. maintain work areas in a clean and tidy condition throughout the activity
19. complete required documentation and records in line with relevant legal requirements and organisational procedures

1. your responsibilities under the relevant health and safety legislation and organisational requirements
2. how to identify hazards and assess risks associated with the work being carried out, and the suitable control measures and Safe Systems of Work (SSoW) that can be put in place to reduce risks
3. the relevant personal protective equipment (PPE) that should be worn when preparing goods for removal
4. how to identify and access the information required to carry out the work
5. the roles and responsibilities of colleagues and why it is important to maintain communication and work effectively with colleagues and customers when carrying out your work
6. the procedure for disconnecting appliances and other equipment and when professional assistance is required such as electricians, plumbers or gas engineers
7. the procedure for dismantling different large items, where to find specific instructions, and the importance of retaining fixings and information for reassembly
8. how to prepare different types of goods for removal and the range of protective coverings in use by the organisation
9. packing requirements for smaller items including heavy, delicate, breakable, valuable, clothing and textiles, chilled and frozen goods
10. requirements for hazardous goods, which items are prohibited and cannot be packed and why this is important for insurance purposes
11. export packing requirements for international moves
12. the importance of considering environmental impact and sustainability when using protective coverings and packaging materials
13. the labelling system used by your organisation
14. the documents that need to be completed including a full inventory of all items being moved together with a record existing damage
15. the issues that may occur when preparing goods for removal, the actions to take and the organisational procedures for reporting issues that cannot be resolved
16. the relevant legal and organisational requirements and industry codes of practice for preparing goods for removal
17. the information and recording systems used by the organisation and the legal and organisational requirements for maintaining records, including data protection legislation and organisational procedures for data security

Export packing requirements: protection against damage (consider the amount of handling required by the transport mode being used), prevention of theft, protection against exposure to moisture, humidity and temperature changes (use of moisture-resistant materials e.g., plastic wrapping, desiccants), use of returnable export packaging, legislation; documentation

Goods: domestic and business appliances and equipment; furniture; glass and mirrors; sofas, chairs and mattresses; TVs and monitors; pictures; clothing and textiles; food items; small non-fragile and fragile items; specialist items; garden and garage items; hazardous items

Health and safety includes mental and physical wellbeing

Packing containers: corrugated cardboard boxes, crates, cases, speciality containers e.g. wardrobe cartons, TV boxes, picture cartons

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): could include - high-visibility clothing, hard hats, protective clothing, eye protection, masks, gloves, safety footwear

Protective coverings: moving blankets, sofa/armchair covers, mattress covers, Furni-guard, bubble wrap, corrugated cardboard, paper. plastic stretch wrap, corner protectors, 

Record existing damage – written description, diagram, photograph

Safe System of Work (SSoW) - is a method of work that puts in place control measures arising from a risk assessment, in order to manage identified hazards, which are broken down into four elements: safe person; safe equipment; safe place; and safe practice.