Health and Safety policy

Health and Safety Policy for Man With a Van Highbury

Man With a Van Highbury is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our staff, customers, contractors and members of the public. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with removals, loading and unloading, transport, and related services.

We recognise that a strong health and safety culture is essential to delivering reliable moving and delivery services. Our aim is to prevent accidents, injuries and damage to property through careful planning, training and supervision.

Policy Objectives

Our main health and safety objectives are to:

Protect the health, safety and welfare of all employees while at work, whether on the road, at customer premises or at storage locations.

Ensure the safety of customers, visitors and members of the public who may be affected by our work.

Identify, assess and control hazards linked to lifting, carrying, vehicle use, loading and unloading, working at height and handling bulky or awkward items.

Provide and maintain safe vehicles, equipment and systems of work that are fit for our removal and delivery activities.

Provide adequate information, instruction, training and supervision so staff can work safely and competently.

Continuously improve our health and safety performance through regular review of procedures and learning from incidents and near misses.

Responsibilities

Overall responsibility for health and safety rests with the company management. Management is responsible for ensuring that this policy is implemented, maintained and regularly reviewed, and that adequate resources are made available to meet our safety commitments.

Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for day-to-day implementation of safe systems of work, monitoring standards on jobs and during travel, and ensuring that staff follow agreed procedures and use equipment correctly.

All employees, drivers and porters have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions. They must cooperate fully with the company in implementing this policy, attend required training, and report hazards, accidents and near misses without delay.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We carry out risk assessments for our typical moving and transport activities, including home and office removals, collection and delivery of items, loading and unloading vehicles and temporary storage. These assessments identify significant hazards and set out the control measures required to reduce risk.

Safe working procedures are developed from these risk assessments and communicated to staff. They cover, for example, manual handling methods, safe use of ramps and steps, use of trolleys and lifting aids, securing loads in vehicles, vehicle parking and access at collection and delivery points, and working in confined or shared spaces.

Before starting work at any property, our teams are expected to carry out a dynamic on-site assessment to identify access issues, trip hazards, uneven surfaces, staircases, low ceilings and other potential risks. Work methods may be adjusted to maintain safety.

Manual Handling and Use of Equipment

Manual handling is a core part of our removal service and presents a significant risk of injury if not properly managed. We minimise this risk by:

Providing manual handling training so that staff use correct lifting and carrying techniques.

Using appropriate equipment such as sack trucks, dollies, straps, moving blankets and other aids to reduce physical strain.

Planning lifts in advance, including the route, number of people required and any obstacles.

Insisting that heavy or awkward items are handled by more than one person where necessary.

Regularly checking that equipment is in good condition, properly maintained and suitable for the tasks undertaken.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

We operate vehicles that are appropriate for removal work and are committed to ensuring they are safe, roadworthy and properly maintained. Vehicles are inspected regularly and any defects reported immediately so that they can be addressed.

Drivers are required to hold the correct licence for the vehicle they operate and to follow all road traffic rules. They must drive considerately and safely, allowing extra time for routes, weather conditions and traffic. Loads must be secured correctly to prevent movement, damage to goods and danger to road users.

When parking near customer premises, drivers must consider the safety of pedestrians, local residents and other vehicles, and avoid blocking access routes or emergency exits.

Customer and Public Safety

We take practical steps to safeguard customers and the public during our work. Where possible, we establish clear walkways and keep entrances, paths and staircases free from obstructions such as boxes and equipment. Items are stacked safely to prevent collapse and trips.

Customers are advised to stay clear of lifting operations and loading areas wherever possible. Children and pets should be kept away from working areas while loading or unloading is in progress.

Training, Information and Supervision

We provide new starters with an introduction to our health and safety expectations, including safe lifting, vehicle rules and customer property protection. Additional training is given as needed for more complex tasks or specialist equipment.

Information about safe practices is made available to staff and reinforced through supervision on jobs. More experienced staff are expected to set a good example and support newer team members in working safely.

Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, injuries, incidents involving damage to property and near misses must be reported to management as soon as possible. We investigate these events to identify root causes and take steps to prevent recurrence.

Staff are briefed on what to do in emergencies, including fire, serious injury, road traffic collisions and sudden illness while at work. Basic first aid equipment is available in vehicles or at the operating base, and staff are encouraged to seek medical assistance promptly when required.

Consultation and Policy Review

We encourage employees to raise health and safety concerns, make suggestions for improvements and report any hazards they encounter during removal work or on the road. Feedback is taken seriously and considered in our ongoing risk assessments and procedures.

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and updated whenever there are significant changes to our operations, relevant legal requirements or best practice in the removals and transport sector. The latest version is communicated to all staff and is available for customers to read on request.

By following this policy and working together, Man With a Van Highbury aims to deliver safe, efficient and professional moving and transport services while protecting the wellbeing of everyone involved.