Health and Safety policy

Man with Van Old Coulsdon Health and Safety Policy

Man with Van Old Coulsdon is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our workers, customers and members of the public who may be affected by our removal activities. This Health and Safety policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with moving, loading, transportation and unloading of household and commercial items across our service area.

Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health, damage to property and harm to the environment by planning our work carefully, training our workers effectively and reviewing our performance regularly.

Management responsibilities and commitment

Management is responsible for implementing and maintaining this Health and Safety policy. This includes assessing risks relating to removal and transport work, providing suitable equipment, ensuring workers receive appropriate information, instruction and training, and monitoring compliance with safety procedures.

We are committed to continuous improvement in Health and Safety performance and will review this policy regularly, and whenever there are significant changes to our services, working methods or relevant legislation.

Worker duties and cooperation

All workers and contractors engaged by Man with Van Old Coulsdon must take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. They are expected to follow all safe working procedures, use equipment correctly, and report hazards, near misses and incidents promptly.

Workers must not put themselves or others at risk by unsafe behaviour, misuse of equipment or failure to follow agreed systems of work. Everyone is required to cooperate fully with management in the implementation of this Health and Safety policy.

Risk assessment and planning of moves

Before each move, we will consider the key risks associated with the property, access routes, load characteristics, distance of travel and any special requirements. Where necessary, a more detailed risk assessment will be carried out, and control measures will be agreed before work begins.

Typical hazards we consider include narrow or obstructed access, stairs and steps, uneven surfaces, poor lighting, traffic risks when loading and unloading vehicles, manual handling of heavy or awkward items, and weather conditions that may affect safety.

Manual handling and lifting safety

Manual handling is a central part of removal work and is a major focus of our safety arrangements. We will, as far as reasonably practicable, reduce the need for hazardous manual handling by using equipment such as trolleys, skates and lifting aids where appropriate, planning suitable parking positions close to the property, and breaking down loads into smaller, manageable parts whenever possible.

All workers are required to use safe lifting techniques, including assessing the load before moving it, seeking assistance with heavy or awkward items, keeping the load close to the body, avoiding twisting while lifting or carrying, and taking regular rest breaks when performing physically demanding tasks.

Safe use of vehicles

Our vehicles are key to our man and van services and are maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition. Drivers must hold the appropriate licence for the vehicle they operate, comply with road traffic laws and follow our safe driving guidance at all times.

Vehicle safety measures include conducting basic pre-use vehicle checks, securing loads properly to prevent movement during transport, avoiding overloading and staying within vehicle weight limits, planning routes to reduce unnecessary risks, and parking in safe locations for loading and unloading.

Loading, unloading and securing items

We take care to load and unload items in a way that protects both people and property. Careful planning of loading order helps reduce unnecessary handling and movement of items. Heavy items are placed first and positioned to maintain balance and stability of the vehicle. Items are secured using straps and other fixing devices to prevent shifting while the vehicle is in motion.

During loading and unloading, workers must be aware of moving vehicles, passing pedestrians and other site-specific hazards. Where necessary, designated individuals will guide vehicle movements or manage temporary exclusion zones to keep people clear of moving loads.

Customer and public safety

We recognise our responsibility to protect customers, neighbours and members of the public during removal activities. We will, wherever possible, keep access routes clear and free from trip hazards created by boxes, tools or equipment. When carrying large items, workers are encouraged to communicate clearly with colleagues and with customers who may be present.

Where there is a risk of damage to property, such as walls, doors, floors or stairways, we may use protective coverings and corner guards. We aim to conduct our work with minimum disruption and to leave the area in a safe and tidy condition on completion.

Equipment and personal protective equipment

Man with Van Old Coulsdon will provide and maintain appropriate equipment for the safe conduct of removal work. This may include trolleys, moving straps, furniture blankets and other protective materials. Equipment must be inspected regularly and removed from use if found to be defective.

Where identified by risk assessment, suitable personal protective equipment may be used, such as gloves to improve grip and protect hands, and high visibility garments where work takes place near traffic or in low light conditions. All workers must use such equipment correctly and report any defects.

Health, welfare and fatigue management

Removal work can be physically demanding. We encourage workers to take appropriate rest breaks, stay hydrated and communicate any concerns about fatigue, pain or discomfort. Work will be planned so that tasks are shared as far as practicable and so that no-one is required to undertake lifting beyond their capability.

We will consider weather conditions when planning work and will take suitable precautions in very hot, cold or wet conditions to reduce risks from heat stress, cold exposure or slips.

Incident reporting and emergency procedures

All accidents, injuries, near misses and damage to property that occur during our work must be reported as soon as possible. Incidents will be recorded and investigated to identify underlying causes and to prevent recurrence. Where necessary, we will review and update our procedures and training in light of any investigation findings.

Workers must be familiar with basic emergency arrangements, including how to contact emergency services, how to make the area safe after an incident, and how to provide initial assistance within the limits of their training and competence.

Training, information and review

We provide information and instruction to workers so they understand the risks associated with removal work and the control measures in place. This may include induction training for new workers, refresher training on manual handling and safe vehicle use, and briefings for specific jobs or unusual tasks.

This Health and Safety policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure it remains suitable for the nature and scale of our man and van and removal services. Amendments will be communicated to all workers, and compliance with the policy will be monitored by management.

By following this policy, Man with Van Old Coulsdon aims to deliver a professional, reliable and safe removal service throughout the areas we serve, protecting our workers, our customers and the wider community.