Man with Van Westminster Health and Safety Policy

Man with Van Westminster is committed to protecting the health, safety and welfare of our employees, contractors, customers and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and delivery services. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety risks in all aspects of our operations.

Policy Statement

Our objective is to conduct every removal, transport and associated activity in a safe and responsible manner. We will take all reasonably practicable steps to prevent accidents, work-related ill health, damage to property and harm to the environment arising from our work.

Health and safety considerations are integral to planning and delivering our man and van services, whether we are moving single items, full households, or commercial loads.

Responsibilities

The management of Man with Van Westminster has overall responsibility for implementing this Health and Safety Policy and for ensuring that adequate resources are provided to maintain safe working conditions.

Managers and supervisors are responsible for:

Ensuring staff are properly trained and supervised for their duties.
Carrying out risk assessments and implementing appropriate control measures.
Monitoring working practices and equipment to ensure they remain safe and suitable.
Encouraging open reporting of hazards, near misses and incidents.

All employees and contractors are responsible for:

Taking reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.
Following all safety procedures, instructions and training provided.
Using equipment, vehicles and personal protective equipment correctly.
Reporting hazards, defects, incidents and near misses without delay.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We will regularly assess the risks associated with our removal and transport activities. Risk assessments will consider loading and unloading, carrying goods, use of lifting equipment, vehicle movements, traffic routes, access to properties and working in different environments such as homes, offices and storage facilities.

Where risks are identified, we will introduce practical control measures such as safe systems of work, additional training, improved equipment or revised methods to reduce the likelihood of injury or damage.

Manual Handling and Lifting Operations

Manual handling and lifting are core parts of our removal services and must be carried out with care.

We will:

Provide manual handling training so staff understand safe lifting techniques and know their own limits.
Encourage the use of team lifting for heavy or awkward items.
Use appropriate handling aids such as trolleys, dollies, straps and blankets where suitable.
Plan moves to minimise carrying distances, trip hazards and the need to navigate difficult routes such as narrow stairways with heavy loads.
Discourage unsafe shortcuts, overreaching, twisting while lifting, or rushing tasks.

Items that are excessively heavy, fragile or unusual in shape will be assessed individually to determine the safest handling method.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Our vehicles are essential to our man and van operations and are maintained to a safe standard.

We will:

Ensure vehicles are regularly inspected and serviced in line with manufacturer guidance and legal requirements.
Carry out daily pre-use checks to identify defects before vehicles go on the road.
Ensure loads are correctly distributed, secure and within safe weight limits.
Promote safe driving practices including adherence to speed limits, traffic rules, rest breaks and avoidance of distractions while driving.

Drivers must report any vehicle defects, accidents or near misses immediately and must not operate vehicles they believe to be unsafe.

Use of Equipment and Protective Measures

All tools, lifting aids and equipment used in our removal work must be suitable for purpose and maintained in good condition.

We will:

Inspect and maintain equipment on a regular schedule.
Remove defective items from use until repaired or replaced.
Provide personal protective equipment where identified as necessary by risk assessment, such as gloves or safety footwear.
Ensure staff are trained in the correct and safe use of all equipment they are expected to operate.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

We recognise our responsibility to safeguard customers, visitors and members of the public wherever we work.

Our teams will:

Plan access routes to avoid unnecessary risks, obstructions and congestion.
Use warning signs where appropriate when loading or unloading near entrances, pavements or shared areas.
Take care not to block fire exits, escape routes or access for emergency services.
Handle customer property with care to avoid damage to buildings, fixtures and belongings.

We ask customers to inform us of any known risks at their premises, such as loose steps, low ceilings or restricted parking, so that we can plan safe working methods.

Training, Information and Supervision

We are committed to providing suitable training and information so that our staff can carry out their roles safely and confidently.

Training may include:

Induction on company safety rules and procedures.
Manual handling and safe lifting techniques.
Safe use of vehicles and equipment.
Dealing with challenging locations and access routes.
Emergency procedures and incident reporting.

Supervision will be provided, particularly for new or inexperienced staff, to ensure that safe working practices are followed consistently.

Incident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, injuries, near misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported promptly. This allows us to investigate what happened, take corrective action and prevent recurrence.

We will:

Record and review incidents as part of our continuous improvement process.
Provide first aid equipment in vehicles where appropriate.
Ensure staff know how to respond to emergencies, including contacting emergency services when required.

Continuous Improvement

Man with Van Westminster will review this Health and Safety Policy regularly to ensure it remains effective, up to date and aligned with our operational needs. We will take account of changes in legislation, industry guidance, best practice, feedback from staff and lessons learned from any incidents.

By working together and maintaining a strong safety culture, we aim to deliver reliable removal services while protecting the health, safety and welfare of everyone affected by our work.