Health and Safety policy

Man With a Van Southfields Health and Safety Policy

Man With a Van Southfields is committed to protecting the health, safety and welfare of our employees, customers, contractors and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and relocation services. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety risks associated with domestic and commercial removals, transportation of goods and related activities.

Policy Statement

Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health, property damage and avoidable disruption by actively identifying and managing risks in all aspects of our work. We will comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and recognised best practice for removal and transport activities.

Health and safety is an integral part of how we run our services. We expect every employee, contractor and partner to take responsibility for working safely and for contributing to a positive safety culture.

Management Responsibilities

Management at Man With a Van Southfields is responsible for providing clear leadership on health and safety. This includes:

Assessing the risks associated with lifting and carrying, loading and unloading vehicles, driving, access to premises and storage of goods.

Implementing safe systems of work and ensuring they are communicated, understood and applied consistently.

Providing suitable equipment, including vehicles, lifting aids, securing straps, protective clothing and other safety resources.

Ensuring staff receive appropriate information, instruction, supervision and training to perform their tasks safely.

Investigating accidents, incidents and near misses and taking corrective action to prevent recurrence.

Reviewing this policy and associated procedures regularly and updating them when necessary to reflect changes in legislation, operations or risk profile.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees, including drivers, porters and supervisors, must:

Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.

Follow all safety instructions, procedures and training provided by Man With a Van Southfields.

Use equipment, vehicles and protective gear correctly and report any defects or concerns immediately.

Report accidents, incidents, near misses and unsafe conditions as soon as possible to a manager or supervisor.

Cooperate with any investigation or risk assessment and contribute constructively to improving safety arrangements.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We conduct risk assessments for our core activities, including packing, lifting, loading, unloading, transportation, navigating staircases and confined spaces, and working at different types of premises. These assessments identify hazards and define measures to reduce risk to an acceptable level.

Key principles of our safe working practices include:

Planning each removal, assessing access routes, parking arrangements, loading points and potential obstacles before work begins.

Using safe manual handling techniques, such as team lifts for heavy or bulky items, and mechanical aids where appropriate.

Ensuring loads are stable, secure and evenly distributed within vehicles to reduce the risk of injury or damage during transit.

Maintaining clear walkways and working areas to minimise slips, trips and falls.

Adapting methods of work in response to weather conditions, restricted spaces or customer specific requirements, while maintaining safety standards.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a significant part of removal work, and we treat it as a priority risk area. To reduce the likelihood of strain, sprain and back injuries we:

Train staff in correct lifting and carrying techniques, including assessment of load size, shape and weight before handling.

Encourage the use of trolleys, dollies, straps and other aids to limit the need for manual lifting where possible.

Require team lifting for heavy, awkward or fragile items such as furniture, appliances and specialist equipment.

Plan routes in and out of premises to minimise twisting, overreaching and carrying loads over long distances.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Our vehicles are central to our removal services and are maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition. We:

Carry out regular checks, servicing and defect reporting to ensure vehicles are fit for purpose.

Ensure that loads are properly distributed, secured and covered as necessary to prevent movement or loss of goods while driving.

Expect drivers to follow road traffic law and drive responsibly, taking into account weather, traffic, time pressures and local access restrictions.

Discourage the use of mobile devices while driving, unless using approved hands free systems in a lawful and safe manner.

Require rest breaks and sensible scheduling of jobs to reduce the risk of driver fatigue.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

We recognise our responsibility to work safely in and around customer properties, business premises and public spaces. We aim to:

Protect floors, walls, doors and fixtures where practicable to minimise damage and hazards.

Keep entrances, stairways and access points as clear as possible during the move and manage the movement of goods to avoid obstruction.

Use caution signage and verbal warnings where there is increased risk, for example when carrying large items through shared areas.

Show respect for neighbours and other building users by minimising disruption and following any site specific rules or instructions provided.

Training, Communication and Consultation

Health and safety knowledge is essential to our operation. Man With a Van Southfields provides:

Induction training covering general safety rules, emergency procedures and company expectations.

Task specific training for lifting, loading, use of equipment and vehicle operations.

Ongoing refreshers and updates when procedures, equipment or legal requirements change.

Opportunities for staff to raise concerns, suggest improvements and contribute to safety discussions.

Accidents, Incidents and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, incidents and near misses are recorded and reviewed. We take prompt action to address immediate risks and to identify any trends requiring changes to our procedures or equipment.

Emergency procedures are communicated to staff and include actions to take in the case of personal injury, fire, spillage, vehicle collision or property damage. Staff are expected to act calmly, prioritise safety and notify management as soon as reasonably possible.

Monitoring and Review

This Health and Safety Policy is monitored on an ongoing basis and reviewed regularly to ensure it remains effective and relevant to the services provided by Man With a Van Southfields. Changes in legislation, industry practice, operational methods and feedback from employees and customers will be considered when updating this policy.

By working together and following the principles outlined in this policy, we aim to provide a safe and professional removal service that protects our team, our customers and the wider community.