Health and Safety policy

Man with Van Streatham Health and Safety Policy

Man with Van Streatham is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our team members, customers, visitors, and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and delivery activities. This Health and Safety Policy explains our approach to managing risks and maintaining safe working practices across all services, including home and office removals, loading and unloading, and transportation of goods.

Our Commitment to Health and Safety

We recognise our responsibility to comply with applicable health and safety laws and regulations and to follow recognised industry best practice for removal and transport work. Our objectives are to prevent injury and ill health, minimise risk, and ensure that all work is carried out safely, efficiently, and with due care for people and property.

We will review this policy regularly and update it as required to reflect changes in legislation, operational practices, and lessons learned from incidents or near misses.

Responsibilities

Overall responsibility for health and safety within Man with Van Streatham rests with the company management. Management is responsible for:

Ensuring suitable resources are available to implement this policy.

Assessing significant risks associated with our services and putting effective controls in place.

Providing appropriate training, information, and supervision to all workers.

Maintaining vehicles, equipment, and tools in a safe and roadworthy condition.

Investigating accidents, incidents, and near misses, and taking corrective action.

All workers, whether full-time, part-time, or casual, are responsible for:

Taking reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.

Following instructions, safe systems of work, and training provided.

Using equipment and protective gear correctly and reporting defects or hazards immediately.

Reporting all accidents, near misses, and unsafe conditions to management without delay.

Customers and any third parties on site are expected to:

Keep access routes, hallways, and stairways as clear as possible.

Inform our team of any known hazards, such as loose carpets, low ceilings, or restricted access.

Keep children and pets away from loading areas and vehicles during the removal process.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

We carry out risk assessments for our removal and delivery activities to identify potential hazards and determine measures to reduce risk. These assessments cover tasks such as lifting and carrying, loading and unloading, working in stairwells, use of trolleys and ramps, and vehicle operations.

Where necessary, site-specific assessments are made at the start of a job. Our workers are trained to adapt their methods to suit the particular property, access conditions, and weather, and to stop work if a situation appears unsafe.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a key part of our work, and we take steps to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries.

We train our team in safe lifting and carrying techniques, including team lifts for heavy or bulky items.

We encourage the use of handling aids such as sack trucks, dollies, and straps where appropriate.

Items are assessed before lifting to determine weight, balance, and any special precautions.

Workers are instructed not to lift loads that are beyond their capability or that cannot be moved safely.

Where possible, heavy items are disassembled and reassembled to reduce manual handling risks.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Safe use of vehicles is essential to our operations. All drivers must hold the correct, valid licence and follow road traffic laws at all times.

We ensure that vehicles are maintained in good mechanical order, with regular checks on tyres, brakes, lights, and securing points.

Loads are positioned and secured to prevent movement, tipping, or damage during transit.

Drivers plan routes to allow sufficient time for safe travel and must not drive while fatigued or under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any substance that impairs their ability.

Parking and unloading are carried out with regard to the safety of pedestrians, other road users, and property.

Working on Customer Premises

When working at customers’ homes, offices, or storage locations, our team takes care to protect both people and property.

Walkways and stairs are kept as clear as reasonably possible during loading and unloading.

Where appropriate, we use protective coverings on floors and bannisters to reduce the risk of slips, trips, and damage.

Heavy or awkward items are planned carefully through doorways, staircases, and tight spaces to avoid sudden movements that could cause injury.

We take particular care in communal areas and shared access points to avoid obstructing fire exits or emergency routes.

Equipment, Tools, and Personal Protective Equipment

We provide and maintain suitable equipment and, where needed, personal protective equipment for our workers, which may include gloves, high-visibility clothing, and safety footwear.

Workers are expected to use the equipment provided correctly and not to use defective or damaged tools. Any faults must be reported and the equipment taken out of service until repaired or replaced.

Training, Information, and Supervision

All staff receive appropriate training for their role, including induction on this Health and Safety Policy, safe lifting techniques, vehicle loading, and working safely on different types of premises.

Additional training is provided when new equipment, vehicles, or working methods are introduced. Staff are supervised proportionately to their experience, and less experienced workers are supported by more experienced colleagues.

Accidents, Incidents, and First Aid

All accidents, incidents, and near misses that occur during our work must be reported to management as soon as possible. This enables us to investigate, identify causes, and prevent recurrence.

First aid supplies are available in our vehicles or carried by team members, and staff are made aware of their location. Where appropriate, we will advise customers if an incident has occurred on their premises.

Consultation and Continuous Improvement

We encourage open communication about health and safety issues. Workers are invited to raise concerns, suggestions, or ideas for improving safety practices. Constructive feedback from customers about safety matters is also welcomed and used to refine our procedures.

Through regular review of working methods, training, and risk assessments, Man with Van Streatham aims to continually improve health and safety performance and to provide a reliable, responsible, and safe removal service for all clients.