Health and Safety Policy for Man With a Van Belsize Park

Man With a Van Belsize Park is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, customers, contractors and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and transportation services. This Health and Safety policy sets out our aims, responsibilities and arrangements for managing risk and promoting safe working practices across all moving and delivery activities.

Our Health and Safety Commitment

We recognise that removal work, including lifting, loading, driving and operating in residential and commercial premises, can present specific hazards. Our policy is to prevent injury, ill health, damage to property and harm to the environment by planning work carefully and following recognised best practice. Health and Safety considerations are integral to how we organise our teams, vehicles, equipment and customer appointments.

We will comply with applicable health and safety laws and continually seek to improve our performance through regular review, training and communication with our staff and customers.

Responsibilities

Overall responsibility for Health and Safety within Man With a Van Belsize Park rests with the company management, who ensure that appropriate systems, resources and supervision are in place. Management is responsible for:

Providing safe equipment and vehicles suitable for removal work.
Ensuring that staff receive appropriate training and instructions.
Carrying out and updating risk assessments for typical moving tasks.
Investigating accidents, incidents and near misses and implementing improvements.
Reviewing this policy regularly and updating it as necessary.

Employees and contractors are responsible for:

Taking reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others.
Following the safety instructions, procedures and training provided.
Using equipment and vehicles correctly and reporting any defects.
Reporting hazards, unsafe practices, incidents and injuries promptly.
Cooperating with management to help meet health and safety objectives.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Before undertaking removal work, we assess potential hazards associated with the premises, access routes, items to be moved and transport requirements. Our risk assessments consider factors such as manual handling, trips and falls, working in confined spaces, staircases, parking and loading areas, and environmental conditions.

Where necessary, we adapt our working methods to control risks. This can include using additional staff for heavy or awkward items, employing handling aids such as trolleys and straps, adjusting access routes, or splitting tasks into smaller stages. Staff are instructed to stop work if they believe it cannot be carried out safely and to consult their supervisor for further guidance.

Manual Handling and Safe Lifting

Manual handling is central to removal work, so we prioritise training and safe technique. Our team members are instructed in correct lifting methods, including assessing the weight and shape of items, planning the route, using team lifts where needed, and avoiding twisting or overreaching.

We aim to minimise manual lifting by using appropriate equipment, sharing loads and reorganising tasks. Staff are expected to decline to lift items that they reasonably believe are beyond safe capability or present a high risk of injury, and to seek alternative solutions.

Vehicles, Driving and Road Safety

Our vehicles are maintained and inspected regularly to meet safety standards. Drivers must hold the appropriate licence and are responsible for carrying out basic pre-use checks, such as tyres, lights, mirrors and securing mechanisms.

Loads are secured carefully to prevent movement during transit, reducing the risk of injury and damage. Journey planning is used to allow sufficient time, avoid undue stress and encourage safe driving behaviour. Drivers must observe road traffic laws, adjust driving to weather and traffic conditions and avoid distractions while driving.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

When working at customer premises, we take steps to protect both occupants and visitors. This includes keeping access routes as clear as reasonably practicable, managing cables, tools and equipment to reduce trip hazards, and using safe techniques for moving items through tight spaces, staircases and shared areas.

We take care to avoid damage to property, fixtures and fittings and to protect floors and surfaces where appropriate. Where work may affect members of the public, we take reasonable steps to reduce risk by managing access and communicating clearly.

Use of Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment

We provide suitable equipment for removal activities, such as trolleys, straps, blankets and protective materials. Equipment is selected, maintained and used in accordance with supplier instructions and company procedures.

Where necessary, personal protective equipment such as gloves, footwear and high-visibility clothing is provided and must be worn as instructed. Employees are required to look after any protective equipment issued to them and report damage or loss so that replacement can be arranged.

Training, Information and Supervision

All staff involved in removal work receive appropriate induction and task-specific training, including manual handling, safe loading, vehicle use and recognising hazards. Refresher training is provided when needed, and procedures are updated when there are changes to work methods or equipment.

Supervision is provided proportionate to the level of risk and experience of the team. New staff may be paired with more experienced colleagues until they are competent to work more independently.

Accidents, Incidents and First Aid

We aim to reduce accidents and near misses by learning from events and improving our controls. All accidents, injuries and significant near misses must be reported as soon as practicable to management, who will record the details and, where necessary, carry out an investigation.

Appropriate first aid arrangements are maintained for our staff while at work. Customers are encouraged to inform our team of any hazards on their premises so that risks can be managed effectively during the move.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

We monitor our health and safety performance through incident reports, feedback from staff and customers, and periodic reviews of our procedures. This Health and Safety policy is reviewed regularly and updated when there are significant changes in our operations, legal requirements or best practice.

By following this policy, Man With a Van Belsize Park aims to provide removal services that are not only efficient and reliable but also carried out with a clear focus on the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved.