Health and Safety policy

Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van Tooting Bec

Man with Van Tooting Bec is committed to providing a safe, healthy and secure working environment for our team members, customers and members of the public who may be affected by our activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out the principles and arrangements we follow when carrying out removal, delivery and transport services within our operating area.

Policy Statement and Objectives

Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health, damage to property and avoidable disruption by managing health and safety risks in a systematic and practical way. We will take all reasonable steps to:

• Comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and recognised industry good practice.
• Identify hazards associated with our work and put in place appropriate control measures.
• Provide suitable information, instruction, training and supervision to our workers.
• Maintain vehicles, equipment and work methods in a safe condition.
• Review and improve our health and safety arrangements regularly.

Management Responsibilities

Management is responsible for implementing this policy and ensuring it is communicated and understood by everyone working for, or on behalf of, Man with Van Tooting Bec. Management will:

• Lead by example and promote a positive health and safety culture.
• Carry out and record risk assessments for removal and transport tasks.
• Ensure that only competent, trained personnel are allocated to particular tasks.
• Provide and maintain appropriate equipment, including lifting aids and personal protective equipment where necessary.
• Investigate accidents, incidents and near misses to identify root causes and prevent recurrence.

Employee Responsibilities

All workers, whether full-time, part-time or temporary, share responsibility for maintaining a safe working environment. Each worker is expected to:

• Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.
• Follow all safety instructions, procedures and training provided.
• Use equipment and vehicles only for their intended purpose and in a safe manner.
• Report any hazards, defects, accidents or near misses to management without delay.
• Co-operate with management to enable all legal and policy obligations to be met.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Risk assessments are carried out for typical removal and transport operations, including lifting and carrying items, loading and unloading vehicles, driving and working at different customer premises. Where necessary, site-specific assessments are completed, particularly where there are unusual access issues, heavy or awkward items, or other notable hazards.

From these assessments we develop safe working methods which may include:

• Planning the route and access to properties in advance where possible.
• Limiting manual handling of heavy items by using trolleys, dollies, straps and other lifting aids.
• Ensuring safe team lifting techniques for large or bulky items.
• Maintaining clear walkways and loading areas to prevent trips and falls.
• Adapting work methods in poor weather or low light conditions to protect staff and property.

Manual Handling and Ergonomics

Manual handling is a core part of our activities and is treated as a priority risk area. Workers receive guidance on safe lifting and carrying techniques, including assessing the weight and shape of items before moving them. Wherever reasonably practicable, heavy or awkward loads are reduced into smaller components, or handled with mechanical aids and team lifts.

Workers are encouraged to speak up if a load is too heavy or presents a risk, and no one is expected to undertake manual handling that they consider unsafe.

Vehicle and Driving Safety

Our vehicles are inspected and maintained on a regular basis to ensure they are roadworthy and suitable for the work undertaken. Drivers must hold the appropriate driving licence and follow all traffic laws and company driving procedures.

Key vehicle safety measures include:

• Pre-use checks of tyres, lights, mirrors and load securing points.
• Correct and secure loading of goods to prevent movement during transit.
• Avoiding overloading beyond vehicle capacity.
• Planning journeys to reduce stress, fatigue and unnecessary time pressure.
• Taking breaks in line with safe driving practice.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

When working at customer locations, whether homes, offices or storage facilities, our workers take reasonable steps to safeguard customers, neighbours and members of the public. This includes:

• Communicating with customers about access, parking and any restrictions.
• Using warning signs or verbal warnings where loading takes place near pedestrian areas.
• Keeping doors, gates and stairwells clear of obstructions.
• Avoiding unnecessary noise or disturbance, especially at sensitive times.
• Taking care to protect floors, walls and fixtures from avoidable damage.

Personal Protective Equipment

Where risk assessments identify the need, appropriate personal protective equipment such as gloves, safety footwear or high visibility garments will be provided. Workers are required to use this equipment as instructed, maintain it in good condition and report any loss or damage so it can be replaced promptly.

Training, Information and Supervision

New workers receive an introduction to our health and safety standards, including manual handling, vehicle safety, use of equipment and customer site conduct. Additional training is provided when new risks, equipment or working methods are introduced.

Supervision is proportionate to experience and the level of risk involved in the work. Less experienced staff are paired with more experienced colleagues until they are deemed competent to work more independently.

Incident Reporting and Continuous Improvement

All accidents, injuries, incidents and near misses must be reported to management as soon as possible. This enables appropriate first aid, follow-up action and investigation to be undertaken. We aim to learn from every incident and use the findings to improve our procedures, training and equipment.

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed at regular intervals, and whenever there are significant changes to our operations, to ensure it remains suitable, effective and aligned with current legal and industry requirements.