Man with Van Merton Health and Safety Policy

Man with Van Merton is committed to providing a professional, safe and healthy working environment for our employees, contractors, customers and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and transport activities. This Health and Safety policy sets out the principles and procedures we follow to manage risks and continually improve our safety performance.

Policy Statement and Objectives

Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health, damage to property and harm to the environment in connection with all moving, loading, unloading and transport work carried out by Man with Van Merton. We recognise that safe operations are essential to the quality of service we provide and to our reputation as a reliable removal company in our service area.

We will implement and maintain appropriate health and safety arrangements that are proportionate to the nature and scale of our work. We aim to:

Identify, assess and control risks associated with removals, transportation and related services. Provide and maintain safe systems of work, equipment and vehicles. Ensure staff receive suitable information, instruction, training and supervision. Promote a culture in which health and safety is everyone’s responsibility. Comply with applicable health and safety legislation and recognised best practice.

Responsibilities

Overall responsibility for health and safety rests with the company management, who will ensure that this policy is implemented, maintained and reviewed regularly. Management will provide adequate resources, including time, equipment and training, to support safe working practices across all removal and delivery activities.

Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for day-to-day health and safety management, including the communication of safe working procedures, the organisation of work on site, and the monitoring of compliance with this policy. They must ensure that staff are competent for the tasks they perform and that any concerns about safety are dealt with promptly.

All employees and contractors 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 follow training and instructions, use equipment correctly, cooperate with management, and report hazards, near misses, accidents and unsafe conditions without delay.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Man with Van Merton will carry out risk assessments for key tasks such as manual handling, loading and unloading vehicles, operating lifting aids, working on customer premises, and driving between locations. These assessments will identify significant hazards and set out control measures to reduce risk to an acceptable level.

Where necessary, task specific safe systems of work will be created and communicated to staff. These will cover, for example, safe lifting techniques, team lifting procedures for heavy or awkward items, use of ramps and trolleys, securing loads within vehicles, and safe movement within properties, communal areas and access routes in our operating area.

Training, Competence and Supervision

We are committed to ensuring that all personnel are competent to carry out their work safely. Induction training is provided to new staff, covering company safety rules, manual handling, vehicle safety, incident reporting and customer care. Ongoing refresher training is provided where necessary to maintain skills and awareness.

Drivers and removal operatives will receive specific guidance on safe driving, route planning, parking, safe access to properties, and customer interaction. Employees will not be asked to perform tasks for which they have not been adequately trained or supervised.

Manual Handling and Use of Equipment

Manual handling is a significant aspect of our work. To minimise the risk of injury, we will provide suitable equipment such as trolleys, dollies, moving straps, blankets and ramps where appropriate. Staff are instructed to avoid lone handling of heavy or bulky items and to use team lifts or mechanical aids whenever possible.

All equipment used in the course of removals will be maintained in good working order and inspected regularly. Defective equipment must be removed from service immediately and reported to management for repair or replacement.

Vehicle Safety and Load Security

Our vehicles will be maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition in line with manufacturer recommendations and legal requirements. Regular checks will be carried out on brakes, tyres, lights, mirrors, restraints and essential safety features.

Loads will be planned, arranged and secured to prevent movement during transit. Staff are trained to distribute weight evenly, use securing straps and protect both furniture and vehicle interiors. Overloading of vehicles is strictly prohibited.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

We recognise our responsibility to protect customers, neighbours and the general public while working at or near customer premises. Staff will take reasonable steps to keep access routes clear, avoid blocking exits, and minimise noise and disruption. Where there is a risk of trips, slips or impact with moving items, staff will position equipment and items carefully and warn those nearby.

Special care will be taken in shared corridors, stairways, parking areas and entrances so that residents and visitors can move safely around our work area. When necessary, staff may temporarily restrict access to an area while heavy or awkward items are being moved, and will remove any obstructions or waste promptly at the end of the job.

Accident, Incident and Near Miss Reporting

All accidents, injuries, vehicle incidents and near misses must be reported to management as soon as possible. We will investigate these events to determine causes and identify any additional control measures needed to prevent recurrence. Records of incidents will be kept and reviewed regularly to identify patterns and opportunities for improvement.

Health, Welfare and Fitness for Work

We expect all staff to present themselves fit for work and not under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Anyone who feels unfit to carry out manual handling or driving tasks safely must inform their supervisor immediately. Reasonable consideration will be given to health conditions that may affect an individual’s ability to perform certain duties.

We promote good housekeeping in vehicles and on site to reduce the likelihood of slips, trips and falls. Adequate breaks will be allowed, particularly during physically demanding or long duration jobs, to reduce fatigue.

Consultation and Continuous Improvement

Man with Van Merton encourages open communication about health and safety. Employees are invited to raise suggestions or concerns so that we can improve our practices. Feedback from customers regarding safety or access issues is also welcomed and will be considered when reviewing our working methods.

This Health and Safety policy will be reviewed regularly and revised if necessary to reflect changes in legislation, guidance, company operations or the findings of risk assessments and incident investigations. Our commitment is to continuous improvement in health and safety performance across all removal and transport services we provide.