Health and Safety Policy for Man With a Van Sydenham

Man With a Van Sydenham is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our staff, customers, contractors and members of the public who may be affected by our household and office removal activities. This policy sets out the principles and procedures we follow to manage health and safety risks across our removal, transport and delivery services.

Health and Safety Objectives

Our main objectives are to prevent injury, ill health and property damage arising from our work. We aim to:

Identify, assess and control risks linked to lifting, carrying, loading, unloading, driving and working in and around customers homes, offices and buildings.

Provide safe systems of work for removal services, including packing, dismantling, moving and transporting goods.

Ensure that vehicles, equipment and materials used in removals are maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition.

Provide information, instruction, training and supervision so that our team can work safely and responsibly.

Comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and recognised best practice for removal and transport activities.

Management Responsibilities

Management is responsible for implementing and reviewing this Health and Safety Policy. This includes:

Carrying out regular risk assessments for typical removal tasks, including stairs, narrow access, heavy items, fragile goods and long-distance journeys.

Ensuring that health and safety procedures are communicated clearly to all workers and that they are understood.

Providing suitable personal protective equipment where needed, such as gloves, safety footwear and high-visibility garments.

Maintaining vehicles and manual handling equipment, such as trolleys and straps, in safe working order.

Investigating incidents, near misses or complaints to identify root causes and prevent reoccurrence.

Employee Responsibilities

Every employee and worker has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. All staff must:

Follow the safety procedures, guidance and training provided for removal, loading, driving and site working.

Use equipment, vehicles and protective clothing correctly and report any defects without delay.

Avoid taking unnecessary risks, including unsafe lifting techniques, overloading vehicles or rushing work.

Report hazards, near misses, accidents or unsafe conditions to management as soon as possible.

Cooperate with any accident investigation, risk assessment or safety review.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We will carry out suitable and sufficient risk assessments for our moving and transport services and review them regularly. Control measures may include:

Planning routes and parking to reduce reversing, manual handling distance and traffic risks.

Using team lifts, trolleys and moving equipment for heavy, awkward or bulky items.

Assessing access routes, stairs, corridors and doorways before moving large items.

Restricting the weight of individual loads to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries.

Ensuring stable stacking and secure loading of goods inside vehicles to prevent movement during transport.

Implementing safe procedures for dismantling and reassembling furniture and equipment.

Manual Handling

Manual handling is a core part of our removal service and is managed carefully. We will:

Train staff in correct lifting and carrying techniques and in the use of handling aids.

Encourage staff to avoid lone lifting of heavy items and to request assistance when needed.

Plan the sequence of moves to minimise twisting, reaching and carrying over long distances.

Refuse to carry out manual handling tasks that present unacceptable risk to workers or customers.

Vehicle and Driving Safety

Our vehicles are essential for our removal work and will be operated safely at all times. We will:

Ensure vehicles are regularly inspected, serviced and maintained to a safe, roadworthy standard.

Confirm that drivers are competent, appropriately licensed and familiar with the vehicles they operate.

Plan journeys to allow adequate time, avoid excessive working hours and reduce driver fatigue.

Ensure that loads are distributed evenly, secured correctly and do not exceed vehicle weight limits.

Promote courteous, legal and defensive driving practices in all areas we serve.

Customer and Public Safety

We will take reasonable steps to protect customers, neighbours and members of the public during our work. This includes:

Keeping access points, pavements and shared areas as clear as practicable while loading and unloading.

Using safe techniques when moving items through communal spaces such as corridors, stairwells and lifts.

Positioning vehicles sensibly to minimise obstruction and maintain safe visibility.

Advising customers of any temporary restrictions or hazards during the move.

Training, Information and Supervision

We will provide training and guidance relevant to removal and transport activities, including:

Induction training on health and safety procedures and safe systems of work.

Manual handling and lifting techniques tailored to household and office removals.

Vehicle safety, load security and driving standards.

Use of any specialised removal equipment provided by the company.

Supervision and on-the-job coaching to ensure that safe practices are followed consistently.

Accidents, Incidents and Near Misses

All accidents, injuries, damage to property and near misses related to our removal operations must be reported promptly. We will:

Record and, where required, report accidents in line with legal requirements.

Investigate incidents to identify causes and implement corrective actions.

Review risk assessments and working methods in light of incident findings.

Encourage a culture of open reporting without blame, focusing on learning and prevention.

Policy Review and Continuous Improvement

This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed regularly and updated as necessary to reflect changes in legislation, industry standards, services offered or operating locations. We are committed to continuous improvement of our health and safety performance and welcome feedback from staff and customers to help us enhance our working practices.

By following this policy, Man With a Van Sydenham aims to deliver reliable removal and transport services while protecting the wellbeing of all those involved in or affected by our work.