Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van Islington
Man with Van Islington is committed to maintaining high standards of health and safety for our staff, customers, visitors and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and delivery activities. This policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with moving, loading, transporting and unloading goods, as well as working in and around residential and commercial properties.
Policy Statement and Objectives
Our objective is to provide a safe and healthy working environment and to prevent accidents, injuries and work-related ill health. We will identify, assess and control risks arising from our activities, with particular attention to manual handling, use of vehicles, working in shared spaces and handling customers' belongings. We aim to continually improve our health and safety performance through regular review of our procedures and practices.
Management Responsibilities
Management is responsible for implementing this Health and Safety Policy and ensuring that appropriate resources are available for its effective delivery. This includes maintaining safe systems of work, ensuring vehicles and equipment are suitable and properly maintained, and confirming that staff have the necessary information, instruction and training.
Managers and supervisors must lead by example, promote a positive safety culture and make sure that risk assessments are completed for relevant tasks. They must investigate accidents, near misses and health concerns, recording findings and taking corrective action to prevent recurrence.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees, contractors and temporary workers have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Staff must follow all safety instructions, use equipment correctly and cooperate with management to uphold this policy.
Employees must report any hazards, defects, unsafe practices, accidents or near misses as soon as possible so that action can be taken. They must not misuse or interfere with anything provided for health and safety purposes, including personal protective equipment, securing devices or vehicle safety features.
Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices
Risk assessments are carried out for key activities involved in our removal services, such as lifting and carrying items, operating in confined or shared access areas, loading and unloading vehicles and working in varying weather and traffic conditions. Control measures are implemented to minimise risks, and safe working practices are communicated to all staff.
Before each job, staff assess the working environment, including access routes, stairs, parking positions, floor conditions and any potential obstructions. Where risks are identified, staff must agree and follow a safe method of work, including team lifting, use of equipment or adjustment of the planned route.
Manual Handling and Lifting
Manual handling is a core aspect of our removal work, and incorrect techniques can cause serious injury. We provide training in safe lifting and carrying methods, including assessing the weight and shape of loads, planning the lift, maintaining good posture and using team assistance when required.
Where practical, mechanical aids such as trolleys or dollies are used to reduce the need for manual handling. Heavy, awkward or fragile items are handled with particular care, and staff are expected to refuse unsafe lifts that present a clear risk to health or safety.
Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards
Our vehicles are maintained in a roadworthy condition and are regularly inspected in line with legal and company requirements. Drivers must carry out basic pre-use vehicle checks and immediately report any defects or concerns so that they can be addressed before further use.
All driving must be carried out safely and courteously, with full compliance with road traffic laws. Drivers must plan routes to allow adequate time, taking into account local traffic conditions and safe parking near customer premises. Loads must be secured correctly to prevent movement during transit, and doors, ramps and tailgates must be operated in a safe manner.
Personal Protective Equipment and Clothing
Where necessary, personal protective equipment such as safety footwear, gloves or high-visibility clothing is provided. Staff must use and care for this equipment as instructed and report any loss or damage so that it can be replaced. Clothing worn on jobs should be suitable for the physical nature of removal work and should not create a risk of entanglement or slipping.
Work at Customer Premises
Our teams often work inside customers' homes, offices and shared buildings. Respect for customers' property and the safety of all occupants is essential. Staff must keep work areas as tidy as reasonably practicable, avoid blocking fire exits or access routes and take care when moving large items around corners, through doorways or on staircases.
Where work is carried out in communal areas or on public pavements, measures such as safe stacking, clear walkways and verbal warnings must be used to reduce risk to the public. Any damage or incident occurring within customer premises must be reported immediately.
Health, Fitness and Welfare
Removal work can be physically demanding. We expect staff to present fit for work and to inform management of any health conditions or injuries that might affect their ability to carry out tasks safely. Reasonable adjustments to duties will be considered where appropriate.
Staff must remain free from the influence of drugs or alcohol while at work or driving. Regular breaks and access to drinking water are encouraged, particularly during physically intensive tasks or in hot weather.
Training, Information and Supervision
We provide induction training for new staff and ongoing instruction covering manual handling, vehicle safety, use of equipment, safe loading and unloading, and emergency procedures. Additional training will be provided when new risks, equipment or working methods are introduced.
Supervision is proportionate to the experience and competence of staff and the complexity of the task. Less experienced workers may be paired with more experienced colleagues until they have demonstrated safe working practices.
Accidents, Near Misses and Incident Reporting
All accidents, injuries, near misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported promptly to management. Records are kept and reviewed to identify trends and to develop further control measures. Where required, incidents will be reported to the relevant authorities in accordance with legal obligations.
The primary aim of investigation is to learn from events and improve safety, not to assign blame. Staff are encouraged to participate openly in this process.
Review and Continuous Improvement
This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and updated where necessary to reflect changes in our operations, legislation or best practice. Feedback from staff and customers is welcomed as part of our commitment to continual improvement in providing safe, reliable man and van and removal services.
