Health and Safety policy

Man With Van South Kensington Health And Safety Policy

This Health and Safety Policy sets out how Man with Van South Kensington manages health, safety and welfare in connection with our removal and man and van services. Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health and damage to property for employees, contractors, customers, visitors and members of the public who may be affected by our work.

Policy Statement And Commitment

Man with Van South Kensington is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment and to continually improving our health and safety performance. We recognise that removal work, including lifting, carrying, loading, unloading and transport of goods, carries specific risks that must be properly assessed and controlled.

We will comply with all applicable health and safety legislation, relevant codes of practice and industry guidance that relate to our moving and transport activities. Health and safety considerations form an integral part of planning and delivering each removal job, regardless of size or complexity.

Responsibilities

The management of Man with Van South Kensington has overall responsibility for ensuring that this policy is implemented and reviewed. Management will:

Ensure that appropriate resources are provided for health and safety, including training, equipment, supervision and time for planning.
Carry out or arrange suitable and sufficient risk assessments for our activities, vehicles, equipment and workplaces.
Maintain safe systems of work for loading, unloading, driving, parking and working at customer locations.
Investigate accidents, incidents and near misses to identify causes and implement corrective actions.

Employees and contractors working with Man with Van South Kensington also have responsibilities. Each individual must:

Take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.
Follow all safe working procedures, instructions and training provided.
Use the equipment and personal protective equipment supplied, as instructed.
Report hazards, defects, incidents and near misses without delay.

Risk Assessment And Safe Working Practices

Risk assessments are completed for the typical tasks involved in our removal services, including manual handling, use of trolleys, use of lifting aids, loading and unloading vehicles, working on or near roads, and work within customer premises. For each job, our team will consider access routes, parking arrangements, stairways, lifts, floor surfaces, lighting and any particular hazards at the property.

Safe systems of work and method statements are developed and communicated to staff, covering topics such as safe lifting techniques, team lifts for heavy or awkward items, use of securing straps and blankets, stacking of items in vehicles, and safe movement of goods in confined spaces or shared areas.

Manual Handling And Lifting

Manual handling is a significant part of our removal operations. To reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injury, Man with Van South Kensington will:

Provide training on correct lifting, carrying and team handling techniques.
Assess the weight, size and shape of items before moving and plan the lift accordingly.
Use mechanical aids such as sack trucks and trolleys whenever reasonably practicable.
Encourage staff to refuse to lift items they believe cannot be moved safely with the available equipment and manpower.

Vehicles, Driving And Road Safety

Our vehicles are essential to our removal services, and their safe operation is a priority. We will ensure that vehicles are maintained, serviced and inspected in line with manufacturer and legal requirements. Drivers are required to carry out pre use checks and report any defects immediately.

Loads will be distributed evenly and secured properly to prevent movement during transit. Overloading is strictly prohibited. Drivers must follow all road traffic laws, drive defensively, allow adequate time for journeys, and avoid any form of impaired or distracted driving.

Customer Premises And Site Safety

When working at customer addresses, our staff will respect the property and ensure that work is carried out safely and with minimal disruption. This includes:

Planning safe access routes for carrying furniture and boxes.
Using protective coverings where reasonably practicable to reduce the risk of slips and damage to floors.
Maintaining clear walkways and avoiding blockages to exits and stairwells.
Being mindful of other occupants, neighbours and visitors who may be present.

Equipment, Tools And Personal Protective Equipment

All tools, trolleys, lifting aids and other equipment used in our house and office removal work will be suitable for the task, properly maintained and inspected as necessary. Defective equipment must be taken out of use and reported immediately.

Where identified by risk assessment, appropriate personal protective equipment such as gloves, safety footwear or high visibility clothing will be provided. Workers are required to use and look after this equipment as instructed and to request replacements when items become worn or damaged.

Training, Information And Supervision

Man with Van South Kensington will provide staff with adequate information, instruction and training relevant to their roles. Core topics include manual handling, safe loading and unloading, vehicle safety, working at customer premises and emergency procedures.

New employees will receive an induction that covers our health and safety expectations and procedures, and ongoing training will be provided when working methods, equipment or legal requirements change. Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for monitoring working practices and intervening if unsafe behaviour or conditions are observed.

Accidents, Incidents And Emergency Procedures

All accidents, incidents and near misses that occur during removal operations must be reported as soon as practicable. Details will be recorded and, where necessary, investigated to identify root causes and to prevent recurrence.

Our teams are briefed on emergency procedures, including what to do in the event of fire, serious injury, road traffic collision or other significant incident while at work or travelling between locations. Staff must cooperate fully with any emergency services and follow instructions given at customer premises, such as fire evacuation procedures for shared buildings.

Consultation And Continuous Improvement

We encourage feedback from employees and customers on health and safety matters related to our man and van services. Suggestions for improving safety are taken seriously and will be considered as part of our regular review of this policy.

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed periodically, and when there are significant changes to our operations or to relevant legislation. Updated versions will be communicated to all employees and made available to customers on request.

Policy Approval

This Health and Safety Policy has been authorised by the management of Man with Van South Kensington, who accept overall responsibility for its implementation and ongoing effectiveness across all our removal and transport activities.