Health and Safety policy

Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van Carshalton

Man with Van Carshalton is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, customers, contractors and members of the public affected by our removal and transport activities. We recognise our responsibilities under relevant health and safety legislation and industry best practice, and we actively work to prevent injury, ill health and damage to property during all moving and delivery work.

Our Health and Safety Objectives

Our main objectives are to prevent accidents and work-related ill health, to manage risks arising from our activities, and to promote a positive safety culture within our company. We aim to continually improve our practices so that every removal, collection and delivery is completed in a safe, controlled and professional manner.

Management Responsibilities

Management is responsible for implementing and maintaining this health and safety policy. This includes identifying hazards, assessing risks, providing suitable equipment, and ensuring that employees receive appropriate training and supervision. Managers will regularly review working practices, investigate incidents, and take corrective action to prevent recurrence.

Management will also ensure that vehicles are properly maintained, that lifting equipment is suitable for the tasks undertaken, and that safe systems of work are followed for all removal and delivery operations.

Employee Responsibilities

Every employee has 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, wear any required personal protective equipment, and report any hazards, near misses or incidents without delay.

Employees must not misuse or interfere with anything provided in the interests of health, safety or welfare. They are expected to co-operate fully with management in achieving safe working practices and to participate in training and toolbox talks as required.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Before carrying out removal, loading, unloading or transport work, we assess the risks associated with the task, the location and the items being moved. This may include considering access routes, staircases, parking arrangements, weather conditions, weight and size of items, and any specific customer requirements.

Safe systems of work are adopted based on these assessments. Where necessary, additional measures will be introduced, such as extra staff for heavy items, use of trolleys or lifting aids, or changes to the planned route to avoid hazards.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a key part of our work and is carefully controlled to minimise the risk of injury. Staff are trained in correct lifting techniques, team lifting, and the use of equipment such as sack trucks, dollies and lifting straps. Heavy or awkward loads are planned in advance so that suitable staff and equipment are available.

Employees are instructed not to attempt to lift items that are beyond their capability or that cannot be handled safely due to size, shape or limited access. Where necessary, dismantling or alternative methods will be considered to avoid unsafe lifting.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

All vehicles used for our services must be roadworthy, regularly inspected and maintained in line with manufacturer guidance and legal requirements. Drivers are responsible for conducting basic pre-use checks, reporting defects, and driving in a safe, considerate manner at all times.

Loads must be secured to prevent movement during transit, using appropriate straps, blankets and other securing devices. Care is taken when loading and unloading near roads, driveways or shared access areas to avoid risk to pedestrians, other road users and property.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

When working at customer premises, we take reasonable steps to protect the occupants, visitors and the surrounding public. This includes keeping routes clear, avoiding trip hazards from equipment or packing materials, and communicating clearly about any short-term restrictions to access while large items are moved.

We aim to minimise disruption, noise and obstruction in residential streets and other local areas. Where necessary, staff will guide vehicles when manoeuvring in tight spaces and use agreed stopping or loading points to maintain safety.

Personal Protective Equipment

Where risk assessment identifies the need for personal protective equipment, such as gloves, safety footwear or high-visibility clothing, it will be provided and must be used correctly. Employees are responsible for taking reasonable care of their equipment and reporting any loss or damage so that it can be replaced promptly.

Training and Communication

We ensure that all staff receive induction training covering our health and safety procedures, safe lifting techniques, vehicle use and customer care. Additional training is provided as needed for specialised tasks or equipment.

Health and safety information is communicated through briefings, written procedures and on-the-job instruction. Staff are encouraged to raise concerns, suggest improvements and participate actively in maintaining high safety standards across our moving and transport services.

Incident Reporting and Investigation

All accidents, injuries, near misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported to management as soon as possible. Incidents will be recorded and investigated to determine root causes and implement appropriate control measures.

Lessons learned from incidents are shared with staff and used to update risk assessments and working practices. We are committed to handling all reports fairly and constructively, with the aim of preventing recurrence and improving safety for everyone.

Continuous Improvement and Policy Review

This health and safety policy is reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes in our operations, legislation or recognised best practice. We seek ongoing improvement in our safety performance by monitoring our activities, consulting with staff and responding to feedback from customers.

By working together and following this policy, Man with Van Carshalton aims to deliver reliable removal and transport services while protecting the health, safety and welfare of our team, our customers and the wider community.