Health and Safety policy
Man and a Van Merton Health and Safety Policy
Man and a Van Merton is committed to providing removal and delivery services in a manner that protects the health, safety and welfare of our employees, customers, contractors and members of the public. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety risks associated with domestic and commercial removals, furniture moves, collections and deliveries.
We recognise that safe working practices are essential to maintaining a reliable and professional removal service. All activities, from packing and lifting to loading, transport and unloading, are planned and carried out with health and safety as a priority.
Policy Aims and Objectives
The aims of this Health and Safety Policy are to:
Promote a positive health and safety culture throughout Man and a Van Merton.
Identify and manage risks related to removal and transport activities.
Prevent accidents, injuries and work-related ill health.
Ensure compliance with applicable health and safety legislation and approved guidance.
Provide information, instruction, training and supervision to enable safe working.
Continuously improve our health and safety performance through review and monitoring.
Management Responsibilities
The management of Man and a Van Merton accepts overall responsibility for health and safety. Management will:
Ensure suitable and sufficient risk assessments are carried out for removal jobs, including residential and commercial premises.
Provide and maintain safe vehicles, tools and equipment, including trolleys, straps and protective coverings.
Allocate adequate resources for health and safety, including training and equipment maintenance.
Investigate accidents, incidents and near misses to identify causes and implement corrective actions.
Review this policy regularly and update it as necessary to reflect changes in operations or legislation.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees, drivers, porters and contractors engaged by Man and a Van Merton have a duty to:
Take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.
Follow all safe working procedures, instructions and training provided.
Use vehicles, equipment and protective gear correctly and report any defects immediately.
Cooperate with management on health and safety matters, including attending training and briefings.
Report accidents, incidents, hazards or unsafe conditions without delay.
No employee or contractor should undertake any task for which they are not trained or which they believe cannot be done safely. Concerns about health and safety must be raised with management at the earliest opportunity.
Risk Assessment and Planning
Health and safety risks are assessed for typical removal activities such as manual handling of furniture, use of stairs, loading and unloading vehicles, working in restricted spaces and operating in public areas.
Before or on arrival at a job, our team will:
Identify access routes, parking arrangements and any obstacles affecting safe loading and unloading.
Assess the weight, size and shape of items to be moved, planning safe lifting methods and team lifting where necessary.
Consider risks associated with stairs, tight corners, external steps, uneven surfaces and adverse weather conditions.
Identify any additional equipment or protective measures required for the move.
Where specific hazards are identified, such as fragile structures, heavy machinery or items requiring dismantling, a tailored approach is adopted to manage the risks.
Manual Handling and Safe Lifting
Manual handling is a core part of removal work and is managed with particular care. Man and a Van Merton is committed to minimising manual handling risks by:
Providing manual handling training appropriate to removal work.
Encouraging the use of handling aids such as trolleys, dollies, lifting straps and sliders whenever practicable.
Using team lifting for heavy, bulky or awkward items.
Planning the route before moving any large item to avoid unnecessary carrying and twisting.
Instructing staff to avoid lifting beyond their individual capability and to ask for help where needed.
Vehicles, Equipment and Maintenance
Our vehicles and equipment are essential to safe operation. Man and a Van Merton will:
Maintain vehicles in a roadworthy condition in line with manufacturer recommendations and legal requirements.
Carry out regular checks on tyres, lights, brakes, securing points and tailgates where fitted.
Inspect handling equipment, straps, blankets and tools to ensure they are in good condition and suitable for use.
Remove from service any vehicle or equipment that is found to be defective until it has been repaired or replaced.
Loads are secured properly to prevent movement during transport, and vehicles are not overloaded.
Customer Premises and Public Safety
Our work often takes place in customers homes, offices and shared public areas. To protect customers, visitors and members of the public we will:
Keep routes clear where possible and avoid creating trip hazards with equipment and packing materials.
Use caution when moving items through communal areas, entrances and pavements.
Position vehicles safely to minimise obstruction and respect parking and access rules.
Take particular care in environments where vulnerable persons may be present, such as children, older people or those with limited mobility.
Training, Information and Supervision
Man and a Van Merton ensures that staff receive appropriate induction and ongoing training relevant to removal and transport work, which may include:
Manual handling and lifting techniques.
Safe loading and unloading procedures.
Use of handling equipment and vehicle safety features.
Awareness of risks within homes, offices and storage facilities.
Emergency procedures and incident reporting.
Less experienced staff are supervised by more experienced colleagues or managers until they are competent to work independently.
Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures
All accidents, injuries, near misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported to management. Incidents are recorded, investigated and reviewed to identify improvements in working practices.
In the event of an emergency such as injury, fire, road traffic incident or structural damage at a property, staff are instructed to:
Prioritise personal safety and the safety of others.
Contact the appropriate emergency services where required.
Follow any site-specific emergency procedures in place at the premises.
Inform management as soon as reasonably practicable.
Continuous Improvement and Policy Review
Man and a Van Merton is committed to continuous improvement in health and safety. This policy is reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes to our services, vehicles, equipment or relevant legislation.
Feedback from employees, customers and other parties about safety matters is welcomed and used to enhance our procedures and working practices across our removal and delivery services.
