Man with Van Ealing Health and Safety Policy

Man with Van Ealing is committed to providing removal and transportation services in a manner that protects the health, safety and welfare of our customers, employees, contractors, visitors and the general public. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to planning, managing and continually improving safety in all aspects of our work, including household moves, office removals and delivery services across our operating area.

Policy Aims

The aims of this Health and Safety Policy are to prevent injury, ill health, damage to property and avoidable disruption to our services. We will take all reasonably practicable measures to:

Identify and control risks associated with removals and transport activities.
Ensure safe systems of work for lifting, carrying, loading and unloading.
Maintain vehicles and equipment in a safe and roadworthy condition.
Provide appropriate information, instruction, training and supervision.
Promote a positive safety culture and encourage reporting of hazards or near misses.
Comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and industry best practice.

Management Responsibilities

Management is responsible for implementing this policy and ensuring that health and safety is integrated into day-to-day operations. This includes:

Setting clear safety objectives and monitoring performance.
Ensuring that risk assessments are carried out and kept up to date.
Providing suitable resources, training and protective equipment where required.
Investigating accidents, incidents and near misses to identify root causes.
Reviewing and updating this policy regularly or when operational changes occur.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees and regular contractors of Man with Van Ealing share responsibility for maintaining safe working practices. Every team member 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 correctly and report any defects immediately.
Wear suitable clothing and protective equipment when required for specific tasks.
Immediately report hazards, unsafe conditions, near misses and incidents to management.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We carry out risk assessments for our main activities, including domestic moves, office relocations and item collection and delivery. These assessments consider hazards such as manual handling, slips and trips, working in and around vehicles, and working at different types of properties.

Before starting a job, our team will assess the site conditions, including access routes, stairways, lifts, parking and any specific customer requirements. Where hazards are identified, appropriate control measures will be put in place, which may include use of additional staff, mechanical aids, revised access routes or alternative loading methods.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a core element of our work and is managed carefully to reduce the risk of injury. Our approach includes:

Training staff in safe lifting techniques, team lifting and use of handling equipment.
Planning loads so that heavy or awkward items are moved by multiple team members.
Using trolleys, dollies, straps and other aids wherever reasonably practicable.
Refusing to undertake a lift that is assessed as unsafe or beyond reasonable capability.
Encouraging staff to stop and reassess if they feel an item cannot be moved safely.

Vehicle and Driving Safety

Our vehicles are central to our removal services and are operated in a way that protects drivers, passengers and other road users. We will:

Ensure that vehicles are regularly inspected, serviced and maintained in line with manufacturer recommendations.
Check that drivers hold appropriate licences and are competent to operate our vehicles.
Load vehicles safely, securing items to prevent movement during transit.
Avoid overloading by respecting weight limits and distributing loads evenly.
Encourage safe driving practices, including compliance with speed limits and rest breaks on longer journeys.

Customer and Public Safety

We recognise our duty to protect customers, their property and members of the public while carrying out removals and transport work. To achieve this, we will:

Plan access and movement routes through properties to minimise risk of slips, trips or collisions.
Use warning where necessary when moving large or heavy items through shared areas.
Keep work areas as tidy as possible, avoiding obstructing exits and communal pathways.
Handle customers belongings with care to prevent damage and potential hazards.
Provide clear communication to customers about any safety-related restrictions or requirements.

Equipment and Work Environment

We select and maintain equipment suitable for the tasks we undertake. This includes moving equipment, protective materials and any other tools used during removals. All equipment is inspected regularly, and defective items are removed from service until they are repaired or replaced.

The working environment is assessed at each job, taking account of factors such as weather conditions, lighting, stairs and narrow spaces. Where conditions are judged unsafe, work will be adapted, postponed or stopped until safety can be assured.

Training, Information and Supervision

We provide appropriate training and supervision to enable our staff to work safely and confidently. This includes induction training for new workers, instruction on safe loading and unloading, guidance on communication with customers and refresher training as needed when procedures or equipment change.

Supervisors and experienced team members are responsible for overseeing new or less experienced staff and ensuring that safe working practices are followed on every job.

Accident and Incident Reporting

All accidents, injuries, near misses and significant property damage incidents must be reported promptly to management. We keep records of such events, investigate the causes and take appropriate corrective actions to prevent recurrence. Where required, incidents will be reported to the relevant authorities in line with legal obligations.

Policy Review and Continuous Improvement

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed at regular intervals, and whenever there are changes to our services, equipment, staff structure or applicable legislation. Feedback from employees and customers is welcomed and used to improve our procedures and standards.

By following this policy and working together, Man with Van Ealing aims to deliver efficient, reliable and safe removal services throughout our service area, protecting the wellbeing of everyone affected by our operations.