Health and Safety policy

Man With a Van Haringey Health and Safety Policy

Man With a Van Haringey is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our workers, customers, visitors and members of the public who may be affected by our house removals, office moves and transportation services. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with lifting, loading, driving and working in and around properties and vehicles.

Our Health and Safety Objectives

Our main objectives are to prevent injury and ill health, comply with applicable health and safety legislation and promote a positive safety culture in all moving and delivery activities. We aim to continually improve our health and safety performance by reviewing working practices, learning from incidents and involving our team in safety discussions related to removals and van operations.

Management Responsibilities

Management is responsible for implementing and maintaining this Health and Safety Policy. This includes assessing risks for all removal and van services, providing suitable equipment for lifting and securing loads, ensuring vehicles are safe and roadworthy, giving appropriate training and information to workers, monitoring compliance with safe systems of work and reviewing this policy regularly to keep it up to date with current best practice in the removals sector.

Employee Responsibilities

All workers, including drivers and removal operatives, must take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. They are required to follow all safe working procedures, use equipment correctly, report hazards or incidents promptly, attend any required training and cooperate fully with management in achieving the aims of this policy. Failure to follow safe practices may result in disciplinary action.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We carry out risk assessments for our moving and transportation activities, including domestic removals, office moves, furniture delivery and item collection. These assessments consider manual handling tasks, loading and unloading vehicles, working in stairwells and confined spaces, driving risks, parking and access issues, and interaction with customers and other members of the public. We develop safe working methods from these assessments and communicate them to our workers so that every move is planned and completed safely.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a key part of our removal services. To reduce the risk of injury, we encourage the use of mechanical aids where appropriate, such as trolleys and lifting straps. Workers are trained in correct lifting techniques, including assessing the weight and shape of items, keeping loads close to the body and avoiding twisting movements. Heavy or awkward objects must be lifted by more than one person where necessary, and no worker is expected to lift or carry an item that they consider unsafe.

Vehicle Safety and Load Security

Our vans and vehicles are maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition. Drivers are responsible for completing basic checks before use and reporting any defects. Loads are secured using suitable restraints to prevent movement during transit, helping to protect both workers and customers property. Access to the loading area is kept clear whenever possible, and particular care is taken when operating in busy streets, shared driveways and communal parking areas.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

We recognise our duty to protect customers, neighbours and the public while delivering removal and transportation services. Our team will work carefully in and around homes, flats, offices and other premises, taking care with doors, corridors, stairways and entrance areas. Where there is a risk of trips, slips or obstruction, we will aim to keep walkways clear and highlight any hazards. We will act with courtesy and consideration for local residents and other road users at all times.

Training, Information and Supervision

All workers receive information and guidance on our safety standards, including manual handling, vehicle safety and incident reporting processes. Where necessary, workers are given additional role-specific training to ensure that they are competent to carry out removal tasks and vehicle operations safely. Supervisory checks are carried out to confirm that safe practices are followed consistently across our removal and van services.

Use of Personal Protective Equipment

Where required by risk assessment, appropriate personal protective equipment such as protective gloves or safety footwear will be provided. Workers must use the equipment supplied in accordance with instructions and report any damage or loss. Personal protective equipment is considered a last line of defence and does not replace the need for careful planning and safe working methods.

Incident, Accident and Near Miss Reporting

All accidents, incidents, near misses and damage to property that occur during our removal and transport activities must be reported as soon as possible. We investigate such events to identify underlying causes and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence. We encourage open and honest reporting and do not tolerate any victimisation of workers who raise genuine safety concerns.

Consultation and Continuous Improvement

We believe that effective health and safety management benefits from the involvement and feedback of our workers. We encourage suggestions for improving safety on removals, loading tasks, route planning and vehicle operations. This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and updated as necessary to reflect changes in legislation, guidance and the nature of our services.

Policy Availability and Review

This Health and Safety Policy is made available to all workers and to customers on request. It reflects our ongoing commitment to operating a safe and reliable man and van removal service. The policy is reviewed periodically, and whenever significant changes occur in our operations, to ensure it remains suitable, adequate and effective.