Health and Safety policy

Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van Croydon

Man with Van Croydon is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, contractors, customers and members of the public. This Health and Safety Policy sets out the principles and procedures we follow to manage risks associated with removals, deliveries and transport of goods.

Policy Statement

Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health, property damage and environmental harm arising from our man and van and removal activities. We will identify, assess and control health and safety risks so far as is reasonably practicable, and we expect everyone working with us to cooperate fully in implementing this policy.

This policy applies to all work undertaken by Man with Van Croydon, including domestic and commercial removals, packing and loading, transport of furniture and belongings, and related services.

Management Responsibilities

Management is responsible for providing effective leadership on health and safety and for ensuring that this policy is implemented and reviewed regularly. This includes:

Ensuring that suitable risk assessments are carried out for removal jobs, loading and unloading operations, and driving activities.

Providing appropriate training, instruction and supervision to all staff and contractors involved in our moving and transport services.

Supplying and maintaining suitable vehicles, equipment and tools in safe working condition.

Making sure that safe working procedures are developed, communicated and followed for lifting, carrying, loading, securing and transporting items.

Reviewing incidents, near misses and customer feedback to identify areas for improvement.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees and contractors of Man with Van Croydon have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. They must:

Follow all safety instructions, procedures and training provided by the company.

Use vehicles, lifting aids, straps, trolleys and other equipment correctly and report any defects immediately.

Practice safe manual handling techniques and ask for assistance or use equipment when loads are heavy or awkward.

Wear any personal protective equipment provided when required by the nature of the job.

Report all accidents, incidents, near misses and hazards to management as soon as possible.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We carry out risk assessments for typical moving and removal tasks and adapt them to the specific conditions at each property or site. Particular attention is given to:

Access routes, stairways, lifts, uneven ground and restricted spaces.

Parking and loading areas to minimise risks from traffic and reversing vehicles.

Manual handling of heavy or bulky items such as furniture, appliances and boxes.

Weather conditions that may affect loading, unloading and driving.

Protection of customers, neighbours and the general public while work is in progress.

We use safe systems of work such as planning the order of loading, using trolleys and lifting equipment where appropriate, and securing loads carefully inside vehicles to prevent movement during transit.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a key part of removal work, and we place strong emphasis on reducing the risk of strain and injury. Our approach includes:

Training staff in correct lifting techniques and team lifting where required.

Avoiding unnecessary lifting by using handling aids such as dollies, platform trolleys and sliders.

Assessing the weight, shape and route before moving any item.

Splitting loads into smaller, manageable parts where possible.

Stopping work if an item is too heavy or dangerous to move safely and seeking alternative solutions.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Our vehicles are central to the safe delivery of removal and man and van services. We maintain high standards by:

Ensuring all drivers are competent, licensed and familiar with our safe driving procedures.

Conducting regular vehicle checks and maintenance, including brakes, lights, tyres, mirrors and securing points.

Planning routes to allow sufficient time for safe driving and to avoid unnecessary stress and fatigue.

Ensuring that all loads are evenly distributed, secured with straps or other restraints and do not exceed vehicle capacity.

Complying with road traffic laws and driving with consideration for other road users at all times.

Customer and Public Safety

We recognise that our work often takes place in residential streets, commercial premises and shared spaces. To protect customers and the public, we will:

Keep access routes as clear as possible during loading and unloading.

Use caution when carrying items through doorways, corridors and communal areas.

Secure doors of vehicles and properties when unattended to prevent unauthorised access.

Place ramps, trolleys and equipment so that they do not create unnecessary trip hazards.

Communicate clearly with customers about timing, access and any limitations or safety considerations.

Training and Competence

We provide appropriate training to ensure that staff are competent to carry out their duties safely. Training topics may include:

General health and safety awareness relevant to removal and transport work.

Manual handling and safe lifting techniques.

Use of trolleys, straps, ramps and other equipment.

Vehicle safety checks, load securing and safe driving standards.

Emergency procedures and incident reporting.

We keep training under review and provide additional instruction when new equipment, vehicles or working methods are introduced.

Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, incidents and near misses must be reported to management. We record these events, investigate the causes and take action to reduce the chance of recurrence. In the event of an emergency:

Staff will prioritise their own safety and that of others before attempting to protect property or goods.

First aid will be sought where necessary and appropriate services contacted if required.

Any serious incidents will be documented and reviewed so that lessons can be learned and shared across the business.

Continuous Improvement and Review

Man with Van Croydon is committed to continuous improvement in health and safety performance. We will:

Review this policy on a regular basis and update it when required by changes in our operations or relevant regulations.

Consult with staff on health and safety issues and consider their feedback and suggestions.

Monitor our performance using information from inspections, incident reports and customer comments.

Take corrective action where shortcomings are identified and communicate changes to all affected personnel.

This Health and Safety Policy is approved by the management of Man with Van Croydon and is made available to employees, contractors and customers on request. All parties are expected to support and uphold the standards set out in this document.