Health and Safety policy

Man with Van Upminster Health and Safety Policy

This Health and Safety Policy sets out the principles and procedures that Man with Van Upminster follows to protect our workers, customers, members of the public and property during all removal and transport activities. We are committed to operating safely and responsibly at all times, whether carrying out a small local move or a larger relocation.

Our Health and Safety Commitment

We aim to prevent injury, ill health and damage to property by identifying hazards, assessing risks and applying sensible, practical control measures. Health and safety considerations form an integral part of planning and delivering every removal service. Management and staff share responsibility for maintaining a safe working environment and safe systems of work.

Legal Duties and Responsibilities

Man with Van Upminster complies with all relevant health and safety legislation and associated guidance that applies to removal and transport operations. Management is responsible for putting suitable arrangements in place, providing appropriate resources and ensuring that safe working practices are followed. Employees and contractors must:

Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions, follow company procedures and instructions, properly use equipment and protective devices provided, and report hazards, accidents, near misses and unsafe conditions without delay.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We conduct risk assessments for typical activities such as loading and unloading vehicles, lifting and carrying items, using moving equipment, driving and working at customer premises. These assessments help us identify significant risks and implement control measures, which may include route and access planning, use of appropriate manual handling techniques and equipment, selection of suitable team sizes for each job, and safe stacking and securing of loads to prevent movement during transit.

Where conditions at a site present unexpected risks, our team will pause work, reassess the situation and agree safe methods before continuing. Work may be postponed or refused if safe conditions cannot be achieved.

Manual Handling and Use of Equipment

Lifting and carrying heavy or awkward items is a key part of removal work. To reduce the risk of injury, we:

Train our staff in safe lifting techniques and team lifting, plan routes in advance to minimise unnecessary carrying, use mechanical aids such as trolleys and skates where appropriate, and avoid lifting items that exceed safe handling limits for the team on site.

All handling equipment is checked regularly, and defective items are removed from service immediately. Only individuals who have received adequate instruction may use specialist handling equipment.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Our vehicles are maintained to a high standard to ensure they are safe, roadworthy and suitable for the type of work undertaken. Regular checks and servicing are carried out in line with manufacturer recommendations and legal requirements. Drivers must complete daily pre-use checks and report defects immediately so that they can be rectified before further use.

All driving must be carried out with consideration for other road users, taking account of weather, traffic and road conditions. Drivers are required to observe speed limits, rest requirements and safe loading practices. Loads must be properly balanced and secured to avoid shifting during transit and to protect the contents being transported.

Safe Working at Customer Premises

Health and safety extends to the way we work in and around customer homes, offices and other premises. Our teams are instructed to:

Assess access routes, stairs, landings and doorways before moving items, protect floors and surfaces where there is a risk of damage, keep walkways as clear as possible to prevent slips, trips and falls, and communicate clearly with customers about any limitations or risks identified.

Where necessary, we may recommend adjustments such as removing doors, using alternative access routes or adding personnel in order to complete work safely.

Training, Information and Supervision

We provide our staff with appropriate training and information for the tasks they are required to perform, including induction training on our health and safety procedures, manual handling and use of moving equipment, safe vehicle loading and unloading, and incident reporting and emergency arrangements.

Supervision is proportionate to the experience of the team and the complexity of the work. New or less experienced workers are supported and monitored to ensure that safe practices are followed consistently.

Customer and Public Safety

Our duty of care extends to customers, visitors, neighbours and members of the public who may be affected by our operations. We take steps to minimise disturbance and risk, including careful positioning of vehicles to maintain safe access, use of warning where necessary when moving large items, and restricting access to work areas when there is a risk of falling items or obstructed pathways.

We encourage customers to keep children and pets away from working areas and moving vehicles throughout the removal process.

Accident, Incident and Near Miss Reporting

All accidents, incidents and near misses must be reported promptly to management. We record and review such reports to identify causes and put measures in place to prevent recurrence. Where appropriate, we will discuss significant incidents with the individuals involved and update risk assessments and procedures.

Continuous Improvement and Policy Review

Man with Van Upminster is committed to continuous improvement in health and safety performance. We review this policy regularly and revise it when there are changes in legislation, industry practice or the nature of our services. Feedback from staff and customers is welcomed and used to help improve our safety standards and working methods.

This Health and Safety Policy is communicated to all employees and is available to customers who wish to understand how we manage safety during removal and transport operations.