Health and Safety policy

Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van Sidcup

Man with Van Sidcup is committed to providing a safe, healthy and secure working environment for our employees, contractors, customers and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and transport activities. This Health and Safety policy sets out our principles and arrangements for managing risks associated with moving, lifting, loading, transport and related services.

Our Health and Safety Commitment

We aim to conduct all removal and transport operations in a way that prevents injury, ill health, damage to property and avoidable disruption. We recognise that a strong health and safety culture is essential to the quality of our service and to the protection of everyone involved in or affected by our work.

We will comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and industry guidance applicable to our operations. We will also review this policy regularly to ensure it remains suitable, effective and aligned with best practice in the removals and transport sector.

Responsibilities for Health and Safety

Overall responsibility for health and safety rests with the management of Man with Van Sidcup. Management will ensure that adequate resources, time and support are provided to implement this policy and to promote safe working practices.

Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for day to day implementation of health and safety measures, including briefing staff on site specific risks, monitoring working methods and ensuring that vehicles and equipment are used correctly and safely.

All employees and contractors have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions. They must follow all safety instructions, use equipment properly, report hazards or incidents without delay and cooperate in any accident investigations or safety reviews.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Before starting work, we assess the risks associated with each removal or delivery. This includes considering access routes, stairways, parking areas, loading zones, weather conditions, fragile items and any potential hazards within the property or surrounding area.

Based on these assessments, we plan safe systems of work. This can include choosing appropriate equipment, confirming suitable parking and loading arrangements, setting lifting limits, identifying items that require two person handling and ensuring that pathways are kept clear of obstacles.

Where new or unusual risks are identified on site, work may be paused while the situation is reviewed and additional controls are put in place if required.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a central part of our operations, and we recognise the potential for injury if it is not managed correctly. All staff involved in lifting and carrying items receive guidance and instruction on safe manual handling techniques, including correct posture, team lifting, use of handling aids and limitations on individual lifting capacity.

We encourage staff to refuse any lift they consider unsafe, and to use trolleys, dollies, straps or other equipment whenever reasonably practicable. Large, heavy or awkward items are planned carefully, with sufficient personnel assigned and movement routes checked for steps, tight corners and trip hazards.

Vehicles, Driving and Transport Safety

Our vehicles are maintained in a roadworthy and safe condition in accordance with legal requirements and manufacturer recommendations. Routine checks are carried out for tyres, brakes, lights, securing points and loading areas.

Drivers must hold the appropriate licence for the vehicle they are operating and must adhere to road traffic laws, speed limits and safe driving practices. Loads are secured to prevent movement during transit, and vehicles are not overloaded beyond their rated capacity.

Parking and unloading are planned to minimise risks to staff, customers and the public. Where necessary, a second team member may act as a banksman to guide vehicle manoeuvres and help avoid collisions or incidents.

Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment

We provide suitable equipment to support safe working, such as moving blankets, straps, sack trucks, furniture dollies and other handling aids. All equipment is inspected regularly, and any defective items are removed from service immediately.

Where required by the nature of the task, staff may be provided with personal protective equipment including gloves, high visibility vests and safety footwear. It is the responsibility of employees to use this equipment correctly and to report any losses or defects.

Customer and Public Safety

We plan and conduct our work in a way that reduces risks to customers, neighbours and the general public. This includes keeping access routes as clear as possible, using safe lifting routes, avoiding unnecessary blocking of footpaths and taking extra care in busy or shared areas.

Customers are encouraged to keep children and pets away from loading and unloading areas and to avoid walking through active work zones while large or heavy items are being moved.

Training, Information and Supervision

We provide our staff with appropriate induction and ongoing training relevant to their roles. This may include manual handling, safe use of equipment, vehicle safety, incident reporting and customer care in relation to health and safety.

Supervisors monitor performance on site, provide guidance and correct unsafe practices promptly. We also communicate lessons learned from accidents, near misses or safety observations so that improvements can be made across our operations.

Accidents, Incidents and Near Miss Reporting

All accidents, injuries, property damage and near misses must be reported to management as soon as possible. This enables us to investigate the causes, record details where required and put measures in place to prevent recurrence.

We encourage open reporting and do not tolerate any form of victimisation for raising safety concerns. Information gathered from incidents is used to review risk assessments, update procedures and improve staff training.

Continuous Improvement and Policy Review

Man with Van Sidcup is committed to continuous improvement in health and safety performance. We review this policy and our procedures periodically, and whenever there are significant changes in our activities, vehicles, equipment or legal requirements.

By following this Health and Safety policy, we aim to provide a professional, reliable and safe removal and transport service for all customers while protecting the wellbeing of our staff and the wider community.