Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van Old Oak Common
Man with Van Old Oak Common is committed to providing a professional and safe removal service for customers, employees, contractors and members of the public who may be affected by our activities. This Health and Safety policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with household and commercial removals, furniture transport and related services.
1. Policy Statement and Objectives
Our objective is to conduct all removal and transport operations in a way that prevents injury, ill health and damage to property. We will take all reasonably practicable steps to:
Identify and control hazards associated with lifting, loading, driving and working in and around customer premises.
Provide safe systems of work and clear procedures for our team members.
Supply and maintain appropriate equipment and vehicles in a safe condition.
Ensure all personnel are competent, trained and supervised for the tasks they undertake.
Monitor our performance and continually improve our health and safety standards.
2. Responsibilities
The overall responsibility for health and safety rests with the company management of Man with Van Old Oak Common. Management will ensure that this policy is implemented, communicated and reviewed regularly.
Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for day to day implementation of safe working practices on each job, including pre job checks, briefings and monitoring of lifting and loading activities.
All employees and contractors have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions. They must follow company procedures, use equipment correctly and report any hazards, incidents or near misses without delay.
3. Risk Assessment and Planning
We assess risks associated with our removal and transport work and put in place appropriate control measures. For each job, our team considers:
Access to the property, including stairs, corridors, doorways and external paths.
Weight, size and nature of items to be moved, including fragile or high value items.
Parking, loading and unloading arrangements near the property.
Environmental conditions such as weather, lighting and ground surfaces.
Any specific customer requirements or known hazards at the premises.
Where necessary, we adapt the plan of work, allocate extra staff, use specialist equipment or schedule moves to avoid peak traffic or local congestion in order to maintain safety and efficiency.
4. Manual Handling and Lifting
Manual handling is a core part of our removal operations and is managed carefully to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries.
Our team members receive guidance in safe lifting techniques, including team lifting for heavy or awkward items, keeping loads close to the body and avoiding twisting while carrying.
We make use of handling aids such as trolleys, dollies, straps and blankets wherever appropriate.
Items that are excessively heavy or difficult to move are assessed individually and may require additional manpower or alternative handling methods.
Employees are expected to refuse unsafe lifts and to seek assistance if they believe a task exceeds what can be carried out safely.
5. Vehicles, Driving and Road Safety
Our vehicles are central to the removal service and are operated with a strong focus on road safety.
Vehicles are maintained in a roadworthy condition with regular checks of tyres, lights, brakes, securing points and loading areas.
Drivers must hold a valid licence for the class of vehicle they operate and follow road traffic rules at all times.
Loads are secured to prevent movement during transit, with appropriate use of straps, ties and protective padding.
Drivers are encouraged to plan routes carefully to allow sufficient time, avoid unnecessary risks and take account of local traffic patterns.
No driver is permitted to operate a vehicle if impaired by fatigue, illness, medication, alcohol or any other substance that may affect safe driving.
6. Working at Customer Premises
Our teams often work inside customers homes, offices and shared buildings. Respect for the property and safety of occupants is essential.
Walkways and stairs are kept as clear as possible, with trip hazards such as loose packaging or tools removed promptly.
Protective coverings are used where appropriate to reduce the risk of slips, trips and damage to floors and surfaces.
Noise and disruption are kept to a minimum, and consideration is given to neighbours and other building users.
Where lifts or shared access areas are used, our team cooperates with building management and follows any site specific safety rules.
7. Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment
All tools, lifting equipment and accessories used for removals are selected and maintained with safety in mind.
Equipment is inspected regularly and withdrawn from use if found to be damaged or defective.
Where risks cannot be eliminated by other means, personal protective equipment may be used, such as gloves, safety footwear or high visibility clothing when working near traffic or loading areas.
8. Incident Reporting and Emergency Procedures
Any accident, injury, near miss or dangerous occurrence during removal activities must be reported to management as soon as possible.
We record incident details, investigate the causes and implement corrective measures to prevent recurrence.
In the event of an emergency at a customer location, such as fire, structural damage or medical emergency, our team will follow the local emergency procedures and contact the relevant emergency services where required.
9. Training, Communication and Consultation
We provide initial and ongoing instruction to workers on safe lifting, load securing, vehicle safety, customer care and emergency response.
Health and safety information is communicated through briefings, job instructions and feedback after jobs where improvements are identified.
Employees are encouraged to raise any health and safety concerns or suggestions with management, and these will be considered as part of our continuous improvement process.
10. Review of this Policy
This Health and Safety policy is reviewed regularly and updated when there are significant changes to our operations, legislation or industry best practice. Man with Van Old Oak Common is committed to maintaining high safety standards across all removal services and to protecting the wellbeing of everyone involved in or affected by our work.
