Health and Safety policy

Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van New Malden

Man with Van New Malden is committed to providing a professional, safe and healthy environment for our employees, 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, preventing accidents and promoting safe working practices across all services we provide.

Policy Aims and Objectives

The primary aim of this policy is to prevent injury, ill health and damage to property during every stage of a move, from initial loading through to final delivery. Our objectives are to:

Identify, assess and control risks associated with our removal and transport operations.
Comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and recognised industry best practice.
Provide information, instruction, training and supervision to enable safe working.
Maintain safe vehicles, equipment and systems of work.
Monitor and review our performance to support continuous improvement.

Management Responsibilities

Management at Man with Van New Malden is responsible for implementing this policy and ensuring that health and safety considerations are integrated into everyday decision-making and planning. This includes:

Carrying out regular risk assessments for removal activities, including domestic and commercial moves.
Ensuring that vehicles used for moves are roadworthy, appropriately maintained and suitable for the loads carried.
Providing appropriate equipment, such as trolleys, straps and protective coverings, to support safe manual handling and secure transport.
Ensuring that staff receive initial and ongoing training on safe lifting techniques, load securing and site-specific hazards.
Investigating incidents, accidents and near misses to identify root causes and prevent recurrence.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees and working partners share responsibility for maintaining a safe working environment. They are expected to:

Take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.
Follow all safe working procedures, instructions and training provided.
Use equipment, tools and vehicles in accordance with training and manufacturer guidance.
Report any hazards, defects, incidents or near misses to management as soon as practicable.
Refrain from horseplay, unsafe shortcuts or any behaviour that could compromise safety.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Before each job, our teams consider the specific risks associated with the property, access routes, items being moved and the surrounding area. Where appropriate, a dynamic risk assessment is carried out on site to identify:

Trip and slip hazards, including steps, uneven surfaces and weather conditions.
Weight, size and fragility of furniture and other items.
Confined spaces, narrow staircases, low ceilings and awkward access points.
Traffic, parking and loading restrictions in the service area.

Based on this assessment, appropriate control measures are implemented, such as using additional operatives, specialist equipment, protective materials or alternative loading arrangements.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a core part of our work, and we recognise the risk of musculoskeletal injuries if not managed correctly. To reduce this risk, Man with Van New Malden:

Provides training in safe lifting and carrying techniques, including team lifts for heavier or awkward items.
Encourages the use of handling aids such as sack trucks, dollies and lifting straps wherever feasible.
Requires staff to assess the weight and stability of items before moving them and to refuse lifts that cannot be performed safely.
Plans the route for moving large items in advance, removing obstructions and opening doors where possible.

Vehicle Safety and Load Security

Our vehicles are central to our removal services, and their safe use is critical. We ensure that:

Vehicles are regularly inspected and maintained to a safe standard.
Drivers hold appropriate licences, follow road safety rules and adhere to driving time guidelines where relevant.
Loads are distributed evenly, properly secured using straps and restraints, and protected from movement during transit.
Maximum load capacities are never exceeded, and particular care is taken with heavy or high-value items.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

We recognise our duty to protect customers, visitors and the public during our operations in residential and commercial areas. To support this, we:

Take care to minimise disruption at access points, corridors and pavements during loading and unloading.
Use warning where appropriate, such as verbally advising customers of hazards in active loading zones.
Position vehicles, ramps and equipment to avoid obstructing public walkways and emergency exits where reasonably practicable.
Handle customers possessions with care to prevent damage to property and reduce the risk of slips, trips and falls caused by misplaced items or packaging.

Training, Information and Supervision

All staff receive an introduction to our Health and Safety Policy, safe systems of work and emergency procedures. Additional task-specific training is provided where needed, including:

Manual handling and lifting techniques.
Safe use of handling equipment and protective materials.
Vehicle loading, driving and parking in busy or restricted areas.
Working in stairwells, communal areas and shared access routes.

Supervision is provided to ensure that procedures are followed and that new or less experienced staff are supported in working safely.

Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, injuries, incidents and near misses must be reported to management as soon as possible. This allows us to:

Provide appropriate first aid or medical assistance.
Record and investigate the circumstances of the incident.
Identify corrective actions and implement improvements to reduce the likelihood of recurrence.

Staff are briefed on how to respond in an emergency, including contacting emergency services, securing the area and notifying customers where relevant.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

Man with Van New Malden reviews this Health and Safety Policy regularly, and whenever there are significant changes to our operations or relevant legislation. Feedback from employees and customers is welcomed and used to improve our approach. By continually monitoring performance, learning from experience and updating our procedures, we aim to maintain a consistently high standard of health and safety across all removal services.

Policy Communication and Availability

This Health and Safety Policy is communicated to all employees and is available to customers and other interested parties upon request. It reflects our ongoing commitment to conducting our removal and transport activities in a safe, responsible and professional manner throughout our service area.