Man with Van Stoke Newington Health and Safety Policy

Man with Van Stoke Newington is committed to providing a safe, healthy and secure working environment for our staff, customers, contractors 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 moving, loading, unloading and transporting goods for domestic and commercial customers.

Policy Statement and Objectives

Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health and damage to property by identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing effective control measures. We aim to continually improve our health and safety performance in all removal, packing, handling and driving activities, whether they take place at customer premises, in communal areas, on the road or at storage locations.

We recognise our responsibilities under relevant health and safety legislation and industry best practice, and we undertake to provide the resources, training and supervision necessary to maintain high standards of safety throughout our operations.

Management Responsibilities

Management is responsible for implementing this policy and ensuring that health and safety considerations are integrated into day-to-day planning and decision making. This includes assessing risks for each job, ensuring that vehicles and equipment are in safe condition, and confirming that only competent personnel carry out removal tasks.

Managers will review working methods, investigate incidents and near misses, and update procedures when necessary. They will also ensure that staff understand their responsibilities and follow the safety rules and guidance set out in this policy.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees and regular subcontractors working with Man with Van Stoke Newington are required 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 meeting legal and policy obligations.

Staff must follow safe systems of work, use equipment correctly, report hazards without delay, and refrain from any behaviour that could endanger themselves or others. This includes obeying road traffic laws, wearing personal protective equipment where required and maintaining good standards of manual handling practice at all times.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Before carrying out removal work, we consider the specific risks at each location, such as restricted access, stairs, shared entrances, uneven surfaces, parking limitations and weather conditions. Where necessary, a site assessment is completed to determine suitable equipment, staffing levels and methods of work.

We adopt safe systems for lifting and carrying, using trolleys, straps and other aids where appropriate. Heavy or awkward items are handled by sufficient personnel to avoid overloading individuals. Where access is tight or involves multiple flights of stairs, additional time and resources are allowed to carry out the move safely.

Manual Handling

Manual handling is a core element of moving and removals work and is treated as a priority area for safety control. All staff involved in lifting and carrying receive instruction in correct posture, team lifting techniques and the importance of assessing weight and stability before moving any item.

We avoid unnecessary lifting by planning the order of work and using mechanical aids where possible. Staff are advised never to attempt to lift items that are beyond their individual capacity and to request assistance when in doubt. Any pain, strain or injury must be reported immediately so that appropriate action and medical assessment can be arranged.

Vehicles, Driving and Road Safety

Our vehicles are maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition, with regular checks on tyres, brakes, lights, securing points and loading areas. Drivers must carry out pre-use checks and report any defects to management so that they can be rectified promptly.

All driving must be conducted safely and in accordance with road traffic regulations, including speed limits and restrictions in residential streets and busy urban areas. Loads are secured properly to prevent movement or damage during transit, and vehicles are never overloaded beyond their rated capacity. Drivers are required to plan routes that are safe and practical for the size and weight of the vehicle, taking into account local conditions.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

When working at customer homes, offices, communal buildings or public access areas, we take care to protect both the property and the people in the vicinity. Where appropriate, we use floor protectors, corner guards and other protective materials to minimise the risk of damage or slipping.

Access routes are kept as clear as reasonably possible, and where temporary obstruction cannot be avoided, staff remain alert to pedestrians and other users. Where there is a risk of tripping or collision, staff may restrict access to areas while loading or unloading is in progress and will communicate clearly with customers and others present.

Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment

Any equipment used in our operations, such as sack trucks, dollies, straps, ramps and protective blankets, is maintained in good condition and inspected regularly. Faulty or damaged equipment is removed from service immediately.

Where risk assessments identify a need, staff are provided with appropriate personal protective equipment, which may include gloves, safety footwear and high-visibility garments. Team members are responsible for using this equipment correctly and for looking after it so that it remains effective.

Training, Communication and Consultation

We provide induction and ongoing training to ensure that staff understand safe working practices, manual handling methods, emergency procedures and the specific hazards associated with removal work. Additional instruction is provided when new equipment, vehicles or methods are introduced.

Health and safety information is communicated through briefings and job instructions. Staff are encouraged to raise concerns, propose improvements and report any incident, near miss or unsafe condition so that it can be investigated and addressed.

Incident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, injuries, near misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported to management as soon as practicable. This allows us to investigate causes, record findings and implement corrective measures to reduce the likelihood of recurrence.

In the event of an emergency at a customer site or on the road, staff are instructed to prioritise the safety of people, contact the relevant emergency services where necessary and inform management at the earliest safe opportunity. First aid arrangements are in place in line with the nature and scale of our activities.

Policy Review and Continuous Improvement

This Health and Safety policy is reviewed regularly and updated when there are significant changes to our operations, vehicles, equipment or applicable legal requirements. We seek continual improvement by learning from experience, industry developments and feedback from staff and customers.

By implementing this policy and working together, Man with Van Stoke Newington aims to deliver a safe, reliable removal service for households and businesses across our service area while protecting the wellbeing of everyone involved.