Health and Safety policy

Man With a Van East Ham Health and Safety Policy

Man With a Van East Ham is committed to providing a safe, healthy and secure environment for our workers, customers, visitors and members of the public who may be affected by our removal activities. This Health and Safety policy sets out how we manage safety across all man and van and removal services, including loading, unloading, transport and work at customer premises.

Policy Statement

We recognise our responsibility to prevent accidents, injuries and ill health arising from our work. We will manage health and safety risks in a sensible, practical way, paying particular attention to manual handling, vehicle use, traffic movement, property access and protection of customer belongings during moves.

All members of our team are required to follow this policy and any associated procedures, and to take reasonable care of themselves and others while carrying out removal work.

Management Responsibilities

Management is responsible for leading health and safety within Man With a Van East Ham. This includes:

Assessing the risks associated with our removal services and putting in place appropriate control measures.

Providing suitable equipment, tools, vehicles and protective gear to support safe working practices.

Ensuring that workers are trained and competent in manual handling techniques, safe loading and unloading, and vehicle safety.

Monitoring performance, investigating any incidents or near misses, and taking corrective action where required.

Reviewing this policy regularly and updating it as our services, operations or legal duties evolve.

Employee Responsibilities

All workers, whether full-time, part-time or contractors, share responsibility for maintaining high safety standards. Every worker must:

Cooperate with management and follow all safety rules, instructions and risk control measures.

Use vehicles, trolleys, straps and all equipment as trained and never misuse or interfere with safety devices.

Apply safe lifting and carrying techniques at all times, and avoid taking unnecessary risks when handling heavy or awkward loads.

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

Refuse to carry out tasks that they consider unsafe and immediately inform management so that alternative arrangements can be made.

Risk Assessment and Planning

Before each removal job, we will consider the specific risks associated with the property, access and type of goods to be moved. As part of our service planning we aim to:

Assess access routes, stairways, lifts, corridors and outdoor areas for tripping hazards, restricted spaces and any obstacles.

Evaluate the weight, size and nature of items to be moved, including fragile, bulky or high-value goods.

Determine the number of workers, type of vehicle and equipment required to perform the job safely.

Plan loading and unloading methods that minimise manual handling and reduce the risk of strain or injury.

Where necessary, agree suitable time slots and parking arrangements to reduce traffic risks near the property.

Manual Handling and Safe Lifting

Manual handling is a core part of our removal work and a key focus for our health and safety management. To minimise the risk of musculoskeletal injury, our workers will:

Use correct posture and lifting techniques, keeping the load close to the body and avoiding twisting while lifting or carrying.

Share heavy or bulky loads between two or more workers where appropriate.

Use trolleys, dollies, sliders, straps and other handling aids whenever they can reduce physical strain.

Break down loads into smaller units where safe and practical.

Refuse to lift items that are beyond their capability or that cannot be moved safely with the equipment available.

Vehicle Safety and Loading

Safe use of vehicles is essential to protect our workers, customers and other road users. Our approach includes:

Ensuring that vehicles used for removal services are maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition.

Loading vehicles so that weight is evenly distributed and items are properly secured to prevent movement during transit.

Avoiding overloading of vehicles and adhering to recommended weight limits.

Using ramps, steps and other aids safely and ensuring that parking positions are chosen with regard to traffic flow and pedestrian safety.

Driving in a considerate and lawful manner, with particular care taken when manoeuvring or reversing near customer premises.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

Our work frequently takes place in and around customer homes, offices, storage units and communal areas. We take care to:

Maintain clear walkways during loading and unloading and avoid leaving trip hazards such as loose packaging, tools or straps.

Protect floors, walls and doorways where appropriate to prevent damage and reduce slip risks.

Control access to work areas, especially where there may be children, pets, visitors or members of the public.

Operate in a tidy and organised way, keeping equipment and items stacked safely and securely.

Respect property rules, building regulations and any specific safety requirements at the location.

Equipment and Personal Protective Gear

We will provide, maintain and where necessary replace equipment required for safe working. This may include trolleys, moving blankets, straps, ramps and basic personal protective equipment. Workers are expected to:

Inspect equipment before use and not use any item they believe to be unsafe.

Store equipment correctly to prevent damage and ensure it is available when needed.

Wear suitable clothing and footwear that offers good grip and protection.

Training, Information and Supervision

We will provide our workers with appropriate information and instruction so they can carry out their duties safely, including:

Induction on our health and safety expectations and procedures.

Guidance on manual handling, safe loading and unloading, use of equipment and personal protective gear.

Ongoing briefings when new risks, equipment or methods are introduced.

Where necessary, supervision by more experienced staff during complex or higher risk removal jobs.

Incident Reporting and Policy Review

We encourage prompt reporting of any incidents, injuries, near misses or property damage. All reports will be reviewed so that we can learn lessons and improve our safety practices. Corrective measures, such as additional training or revised procedures, will be implemented where required.

This Health and Safety policy will be reviewed on a regular basis, and whenever there are significant changes to our services or working practices. Our aim is continual improvement, so that customers choosing Man With a Van East Ham can rely on a responsible, safety-conscious removal service.