Health and Safety policy

Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van Ilford

Man with Van Ilford is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, customers, visitors and members of the public who may be affected by our removals and transport activities. This Health and Safety policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with moving, handling, loading, unloading and transporting goods.

We aim to prevent accidents, injuries and work-related ill health by identifying hazards, assessing risks and putting in place effective control measures. Our goal is to maintain high standards of safety across all home and office removal services, including local moves and longer distance transport.

Policy Objectives

The main objectives of this Health and Safety policy are to:

Identify, evaluate and control risks arising from our moving and transport operations.
Comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and industry guidance applicable to removal and delivery services.
Provide safe systems of work, safe equipment and suitable protective measures for our staff.
Deliver appropriate training, instruction and supervision so that work is carried out safely and competently.
Promote a positive health and safety culture where all team members take responsibility for their own safety and that of others.
Continuously review and improve our health and safety performance.

Management Responsibilities

Management has overall responsibility for implementing and maintaining this Health and Safety policy. This includes:

Ensuring suitable and sufficient risk assessments are carried out for removal jobs, loading and unloading activities, and driving tasks.
Providing vehicles, trolleys, lifting equipment and other tools that are fit for purpose and maintained in a safe condition.
Allocating appropriate resources to health and safety, including time for training and equipment checks.
Monitoring compliance with safety procedures and taking corrective action where required.
Consulting with staff about health and safety matters and encouraging suggestions for improvement.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees and contractors working for Man with Van Ilford share responsibility for maintaining a safe working environment. Every team member is expected to:

Take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.
Follow all safety procedures, training and instructions given by the company.
Use equipment, vehicles and personal protective equipment correctly and report defects immediately.
Report accidents, near misses, hazards or unsafe conditions without delay.
Refrain from horseplay, misuse of equipment or any behaviour that could endanger themselves or others.
Cooperate fully with any investigations, training or health and safety initiatives.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

We carry out risk assessments for all key activities involved in our removal services, including but not limited to:

Manual handling of furniture, appliances and boxes.
Use of moving equipment such as sack trucks, dollies and straps.
Accessing properties, stairways, lifts and restricted spaces.
Parking, loading and unloading in residential and commercial areas.
Driving and journey planning for local and longer-distance moves.

Based on these assessments, we develop safe systems of work, which may include:

Planning routes and parking locations to minimise reversing and vehicle movements in busy areas.
Allocating sufficient staff to handle bulky or heavy items safely.
Using lifting aids wherever practicable to reduce strain on individuals.
Implementing clear communication on site, including a designated person to guide vehicle manoeuvres when required.
Ensuring walkways and working areas are kept clear of trip hazards.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a significant part of removal work and is managed carefully to reduce the risk of injury. Our approach includes:

Providing training in correct lifting and carrying techniques, including team lifts for large or awkward items.
Assessing the weight, size and stability of items before moving them.
Using mechanical aids such as trolleys and sliders where appropriate.
Avoiding overreaching, twisting and carrying loads over long distances without breaks.
Refusing to move items that cannot be handled safely with the resources available.

Vehicle and Driving Safety

Our vehicles are essential to our operations, and we recognise the importance of safe driving and vehicle management. We commit to:

Maintaining vehicles in a roadworthy condition with regular inspections and servicing.
Ensuring loads are evenly distributed, properly secured and do not exceed permitted weight limits.
Providing drivers with guidance on safe driving practices, including speed, rest breaks and adverse weather conditions.
Planning routes in advance to minimise risk and avoid unsuitable roads where possible.
Instructing drivers not to use mobile phones or other distractions while driving.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

We take care to protect customers, their property and members of the public during our work. This includes:

Assessing access routes in and around the property before starting work.
Using protective coverings where appropriate to safeguard floors and fixtures.
Managing cables, equipment and packaging to avoid creating trip or slip hazards.
Positioning vehicles and carrying out loading and unloading activities in a way that minimises risk to pedestrians and other road users.
Respecting house rules or building regulations that apply to specific premises.

Training, Information and Supervision

Training is essential to delivering safe and reliable removal services. Man with Van Ilford will:

Provide induction training for new staff on health and safety procedures, emergency arrangements and safe use of equipment.
Offer ongoing training and refresher sessions on manual handling, vehicle safety and risk awareness.
Ensure that less experienced staff are supervised by competent team members until they are confident and capable of working safely.
Share relevant safety information and updates with staff in a clear and accessible way.

Accident Reporting and Incident Investigation

All accidents, injuries, near misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported as soon as possible to management. We will:

Record details of incidents and any injuries sustained.
Investigate causes to identify underlying issues and prevent recurrence.
Implement corrective actions, which may include changes to procedures, additional training or equipment improvements.
Review incident trends to monitor performance and target areas for improvement.

Health and Wellbeing

We recognise that physical and mental wellbeing are important to safe working. Our approach includes:

Encouraging staff to report any health conditions that may affect their ability to carry out manual handling or driving tasks safely.
Discouraging working while unfit due to illness, fatigue, alcohol or drugs.
Promoting regular breaks on longer jobs and journeys.
Supporting staff who raise concerns about workload, stress or safety issues.

Review of Policy

This Health and Safety policy is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains appropriate to the nature and scale of our removal and transport activities. Reviews will also take place following significant changes in operations, legislation, incidents or industry best practice. Updated versions of the policy will be communicated to all staff and will replace previous editions.

By working together and following this policy, Man with Van Ilford aims to deliver safe, reliable and professional removal services while protecting our team, our customers and the wider community.