Man With a Van Ealing Health and Safety Policy

Man With a Van Ealing is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, contractors, customers and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and transport activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with household and commercial removals, loading and unloading, driving, and handling of furniture and other goods.

Policy Aims

The aims of this Health and Safety Policy are to prevent injury, ill health and property damage arising from our activities, to comply with all applicable health and safety legislation and recognised guidance, and to continually improve our safety performance across all removal jobs and related services.

We will ensure that health and safety considerations are integrated into planning and delivering every move, including single-item collections, house moves, office relocations and storage runs.

Management Responsibilities

Management at Man With a Van Ealing accepts overall responsibility for implementing and maintaining this policy. This includes providing adequate resources so that health and safety standards are maintained and improved as our service area and workload develop.

Management will regularly review working practices, vehicle use, equipment condition and staff competence, and will take prompt action to address any issues that could compromise safety during removals or deliveries.

Employee Responsibilities

Every worker has a responsibility to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. This includes colleagues, customers, pedestrians and other road users.

Employees must follow all safe working procedures and training provided, use equipment correctly, report hazards, accidents and near-misses without delay, and cooperate fully with management in implementing this Health and Safety Policy.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We carry out suitable and proportionate risk assessments for our key activities, including manual handling of heavy and bulky items, moving goods through confined spaces, stair work, vehicle loading and unloading, and driving between locations.

From these assessments, we develop safe working methods that are communicated to staff. Where necessary, we tailor risk controls to the specific requirements of each job, considering access routes, parking, property layout, type of items moved and any vulnerabilities of customers present at the property.

Manual Handling and Use of Equipment

Manual handling is a core part of removal work and is managed carefully to minimise the risk of strains, sprains and other injuries. We provide training in safe lifting techniques, team lifting, load assessment and the use of appropriate mechanical aids.

Where possible, we use trolleys, dollies, lifting straps and other equipment to reduce manual effort. Staff are instructed never to attempt to lift or move loads that are beyond their individual capability and to request assistance or additional equipment when required.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Our vehicles are maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition with regular checks and servicing. Drivers are required to complete routine vehicle inspections, reporting any defects so they can be dealt with promptly.

We promote safe driving practices at all times, including adherence to speed limits, avoidance of distractions, secure loading of goods to prevent movement in transit, and careful manoeuvring when parking near customer properties. Routes are planned, where reasonably practicable, to reduce unnecessary risks and delays.

Customer and Public Safety

During collections and deliveries, we take reasonable steps to protect customers, neighbours and members of the public from harm. This includes careful management of access points, doors and gates, clear communication with occupants, and where needed, restricting access to areas where lifting or carrying is in progress.

We handle customer property with care to avoid damage to goods, fixtures and fittings. Any incident that could affect safety, such as trip hazards from packaging or tools, is promptly controlled and removed.

Training, Information and Supervision

We provide training, information and supervision appropriate to each role. This includes induction training for new staff, on-the-job instruction for removal techniques, and additional guidance whenever we introduce new equipment, vehicles or working methods.

Supervisors and experienced team members are responsible for monitoring compliance with safe practices on jobs and mentoring less experienced staff to ensure a consistent safety culture across all teams.

Accident, Incident and Near-Miss Reporting

All accidents, incidents and near-misses, however minor they may appear, must be reported to management as soon as possible. We record and investigate these events to understand their causes and to identify measures to reduce the likelihood of recurrence.

Learnings from investigations are shared with staff and may result in updated training, revised procedures or changes in equipment or job planning.

Health, Welfare and Fitness for Work

We recognise the physical nature of removal work and the importance of staff wellbeing. Employees are expected to present themselves fit for work, free from the influence of alcohol or drugs, and to inform management of any health condition that may affect their ability to carry out tasks safely.

Reasonable adjustments will be considered where practicable to support staff with health issues, provided that safety standards are not compromised.

Contractors and Subcontractors

Where contractors or subcontractors are engaged to support our services, they are required to work to health and safety standards that are at least equivalent to those set out in this policy. We will provide relevant information on site-specific risks and expect full cooperation with our procedures.

Policy Review and Continuous Improvement

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and updated when necessary to reflect changes in legislation, industry practice, company operations or the outcome of incident investigations.

Man With a Van Ealing is committed to continuously improving health and safety performance so that our removal and transport services are delivered safely, efficiently and responsibly for everyone involved.