Health and Safety policy

Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van Kingston upon Thames

Man with Van Kingston upon Thames is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, contractors, customers, and members of the public. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with removal and transport services, including house moves, office moves, student moves, and local deliveries.

Policy Aims and Objectives

The purpose of this policy is to prevent accidents, injuries, work-related ill health, and damage to property during all moving and transportation activities. We aim to identify hazards in advance, assess and manage risks, and ensure that all tasks are carried out in a controlled and responsible manner.

Our objectives include maintaining safe working practices, providing suitable equipment, ensuring appropriate training, and promoting a culture in which safety is a shared responsibility.

Management Responsibilities

Management is responsible for implementing and reviewing this Health and Safety Policy and for ensuring that suitable procedures are in place for all activities carried out by Man with Van Kingston upon Thames. This includes planning work to minimise risk, providing adequate resources for safety, and ensuring that vehicles, tools, and lifting equipment are properly maintained.

Management will regularly review risk assessments, monitor working practices, and take corrective action where necessary. Any incident, near miss, or safety concern will be investigated promptly so that improvements can be made.

Employee Responsibilities

Every employee and regular contractor is responsible for taking reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Staff are expected to follow all safe working procedures, use equipment correctly, and co-operate with management in meeting health and safety requirements.

Employees must not misuse or interfere with anything provided for health and safety purposes. Any hazard, defect, or unsafe condition must be reported to management as soon as it is identified. No one should undertake a task for which they have not been trained or that they consider unsafe.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Before each removal or transport job, a risk assessment will be carried out to identify potential hazards associated with access, parking, lifting, carrying, loading, unloading, and traffic management. The findings of the risk assessment will be used to plan the work, allocate appropriate staffing levels, and choose the correct equipment.

Safe systems of work will be followed at all times, including careful route planning, securing loads, and ensuring that access to and from properties is as safe as reasonably practicable. Where risks cannot be eliminated, they will be reduced to the lowest level that is reasonably achievable.

Manual Handling and Lifting Operations

Manual handling is a significant part of removal work, and the risk of strain, sprains, and other musculoskeletal injuries must be controlled. All staff receive guidance in safe lifting techniques, including team lifting, maintaining good posture, and using appropriate handling aids.

Heavy, bulky, or awkward items will be handled using trolleys, dollies, straps, and other mechanical aids where reasonably practicable. No employee is required to lift or carry a load that they consider unsafe. Special care is taken when moving items up or down stairs, through narrow hallways, or in confined spaces.

Vehicle Safety and Load Security

All vehicles used by Man with Van Kingston upon Thames must be roadworthy, regularly inspected, and maintained in good repair. Drivers are responsible for conducting basic safety checks before use, including tyres, lights, mirrors, and securing doors and ramps.

Loads must be evenly distributed and safely secured to prevent movement during transit. Items are protected with blankets, straps, and other securing devices to reduce the risk of damage and to ensure the stability of the load. Vehicles must never be overloaded beyond their specified capacity.

Slips, Trips, Falls and Site Safety

Slips, trips, and falls are common causes of injury in the removals sector. Our teams will keep working areas as clear as possible, avoid trailing cables and loose packaging, and maintain clear access routes within properties and around vehicles.

Where conditions are wet, icy, or otherwise hazardous, extra precautions will be taken, including the use of appropriate footwear, careful positioning of ramps and steps, and allowing additional time to carry out work safely. Staff will take care when working on uneven ground, in low lighting, or in shared access areas.

Use of Personal Protective Equipment

Personal protective equipment will be provided where required by risk assessment. This may include protective footwear, gloves, high-visibility clothing, and other items suitable for the specific job. Staff are responsible for using this equipment correctly, keeping it in good condition, and reporting any defects.

PPE is considered a last line of defence and is used in conjunction with other control measures, rather than as a replacement for safe systems of work.

Customer and Public Safety

Our duty of care extends to customers, neighbours, and the general public who may be affected by our work. When operating in residential streets, commercial areas, or shared premises, our staff will take care to minimise disruption and avoid creating hazards.

Access routes will be kept as clear as practicable, and customers may be asked to stay clear of loading areas and vehicle ramps while work is in progress. Where necessary, temporary barriers or signs may be used to warn of moving vehicles or lifting operations.

Training, Information and Supervision

All staff receive information and instruction relevant to their roles, including induction training and on-the-job supervision. Training covers safe lifting techniques, vehicle loading, use of equipment, emergency procedures, and general site safety.

Supervisors and experienced staff members are responsible for guiding less experienced workers and ensuring that safe practice is maintained. Refresher training will be provided when required, and additional instruction will be given if new equipment or procedures are introduced.

Accidents, Incidents and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, near misses, and dangerous occurrences must be reported to management as soon as possible. This enables us to investigate what happened, take corrective action, and update risk assessments and procedures where needed. Records of incidents will be kept for monitoring and review.

Staff are briefed on what to do in the event of an emergency, including road traffic collisions, significant injuries, fire, or sudden illness. Emergency contact arrangements will be in place, and vehicles will carry basic safety equipment where appropriate.

Review of the Health and Safety Policy

This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed on a regular basis and updated as necessary to reflect changes in legislation, industry guidance, working methods, and the scale of operations. Feedback from staff and customers is welcomed and will be considered in future revisions.

By following this policy, Man with Van Kingston upon Thames aims to provide reliable local moving and delivery services while protecting the health, safety, and wellbeing of everyone involved in our work.