Health and Safety policy

Health and Safety Policy for Man With a Van Camberwell

Man With a Van Camberwell is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our staff, clients, contractors, and members of the public. This Health and Safety policy sets out the principles and procedures we follow to manage risks associated with removals, loading, unloading, and transport of goods within our service areas.

Policy Statement and Objectives

Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health, and damage to property arising from our removal activities. We aim to continually improve our health and safety performance by identifying hazards, assessing risks, and implementing effective control measures. All staff are expected to co-operate fully with this policy and to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.

Management Responsibilities

Management at Man With a Van Camberwell is responsible for ensuring that appropriate resources are made available to implement this policy. This includes providing suitable equipment, arranging relevant training, and maintaining safe systems of work for all removal and transport operations. Management will review this policy regularly to ensure it remains appropriate to the nature and scale of our activities.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees and regular contractors are required to:

Work safely at all times and follow any instructions, training, or procedures provided. Use equipment, tools, and vehicles correctly and report any defects immediately. Co-operate with supervisors in implementing risk controls. Report accidents, near misses, and unsafe conditions without delay so that corrective action can be taken. Refrain from horseplay or any behaviour that could compromise safety during removals or related work.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

We carry out risk assessments for our core activities, including household moves, office relocations, and transport of bulky or heavy items. These assessments help us identify hazards such as manual handling risks, trip hazards, vehicle movement, working at height when loading, and environmental conditions at collection and delivery addresses.

For each identified hazard, we apply reasonable control measures, which may include route planning, using appropriate lifting techniques or equipment, ensuring good lighting, maintaining clear access pathways, and limiting loads to safe weights. Where necessary, site-specific assessments may be carried out before or during a job to address particular challenges such as narrow staircases, restricted parking, or fragile flooring.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a significant element of our removal work and is managed carefully to reduce the risk of strain, sprains, and musculoskeletal injuries. Our approach includes:

Training staff in safe lifting techniques and team handling. Planning lifts in advance, including the route and resting points where required. Using lifting aids, trolleys, and straps when appropriate. Avoiding single-person lifts for items that are excessively heavy, awkward, or unstable. Encouraging staff to stop and reassess the task if a lift appears unsafe or conditions change.

Use of Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment

All equipment used in the course of our removal services is inspected regularly and maintained in safe working condition. This may include trolleys, dollies, removal blankets, straps, and other load-securing devices.

Where necessary, staff are provided with and required to wear suitable personal protective equipment such as gloves, safety footwear, and high-visibility garments, particularly when working around moving vehicles, handling heavy objects, or operating in low-light conditions.

Vehicle and Driving Safety

Our vehicles are essential to our services and are operated in a manner that prioritises safety for drivers, passengers, other road users, and pedestrians. We ensure that:

Vehicles are maintained, serviced, and inspected regularly. Loads are safely distributed and properly secured to prevent movement during transit. Drivers are competent, licensed, and instructed to comply with traffic laws and safe driving practices. Routes are planned to minimise risk and delay where possible, taking into account access constraints at collection and delivery points. Parking and unloading activities are organised to reduce risk to the public and to avoid creating obstructions.

Working at Client Premises

When operating at client homes, offices, or other premises, we take care to protect both people and property. This includes:

Maintaining clear access routes and keeping exits unobstructed. Using protective coverings where appropriate to reduce damage and slip hazards. Communicating clearly with clients about any safety concerns that arise during the move. Exercising extra caution around children, pets, and vulnerable individuals who may be present.

Accident, Incident, and Near Miss Reporting

All accidents, incidents, and near misses that occur during our work will be recorded and investigated as appropriate. The purpose of investigation is not to attribute blame but to understand underlying causes and improve our processes and training. Lessons learned are shared with relevant staff to prevent recurrence.

Training, Instruction, and Supervision

We provide our team members with training and instruction relevant to their roles, including manual handling, safe lifting, vehicle safety, loading techniques, and hazard awareness. New staff receive induction training before working unsupervised, and more experienced staff may receive additional training where risks or methods of work change.

Health, Welfare, and Fitness for Work

We recognise the physical demands associated with removal work. Staff are encouraged to maintain good personal health, report any conditions that may affect their ability to work safely, and take adequate rest breaks. No employee or contractor should undertake removal or driving duties if they are unfit due to illness, fatigue, alcohol, drugs, or any other impairment.

Continuous Improvement and Policy Review

This Health and Safety policy will be reviewed periodically and revised as necessary in light of changes to our operations, legislation, or industry best practice. Feedback from staff, clients, and other stakeholders is welcomed and may be used to refine our procedures and guidance.

By implementing this policy, Man With a Van Camberwell seeks to ensure that every removal, from small local moves to larger relocations, is carried out as safely and responsibly as possible for everyone involved.