Man with Van Bethnal Green Health and Safety Policy

Man with Van Bethnal Green is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for all employees, contractors, customers and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and delivery activities. This policy sets out the principles and arrangements we follow to manage health and safety risks in all areas of our work, including home moves, office removals and local transport services.

Our Health and Safety Commitment

We recognise our responsibilities under applicable health and safety legislation and will take all reasonably practicable steps to prevent injury, ill health, damage to property and harm to the environment. Health and safety considerations form an integral part of planning and delivering our man and van services, from initial booking through to completion of each job.

Our objectives are to minimise risks associated with manual handling, driving, loading and unloading, working in customers premises and operating in public spaces, while maintaining a reliable, efficient and professional removal service.

Responsibilities and Accountability

Overall responsibility for health and safety within Man with Van Bethnal Green rests with the company management. Management duties include setting and reviewing safety standards, providing adequate resources, and monitoring performance.

Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for implementing this policy on a day-to-day basis, ensuring that staff follow safe systems of work, wear suitable clothing and equipment, and report hazards promptly.

All employees and contractors must take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions. They are expected to:

Follow all safety instructions and training provided, use equipment correctly, report accidents, near misses and unsafe conditions, and cooperate fully with any investigation or safety improvement initiative.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We assess foreseeable risks associated with our removal and transport activities and put control measures in place to minimise them. Risk assessments are reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes to working methods, equipment or locations.

Safe systems of work are developed for key tasks such as lifting and carrying, moving large or awkward items, negotiating stairs and tight spaces, loading and securing goods in vehicles, and operating in shared or public areas. Staff are informed of these procedures and are required to follow them at all times.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a significant element of our work and is carefully controlled to reduce the risk of injury. We aim to eliminate or reduce heavy lifting wherever possible by:

Using mechanical aids and appropriate equipment, planning the route and sequence of each move to avoid unnecessary handling, assessing the weight, size and stability of items before attempting to move them, and using team lifting techniques when individual handling would be unsafe.

Staff receive guidance on good lifting practices, including posture, load assessment, communication with colleagues and safe use of handling equipment provided.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Our vehicles are maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition, with regular checks and servicing carried out in line with legal and manufacturer requirements. Drivers must complete pre-use checks and report defects without delay.

All driving activities are planned and managed to reduce risks associated with fatigue, poor weather, traffic conditions and loading. Loads are distributed and secured to prevent movement during transit, with particular attention to heavy, fragile or hazardous items accepted for transport.

Drivers are expected to comply with road traffic laws at all times, including speed limits, parking regulations and restrictions around loading and unloading in residential and commercial areas.

Working at Customer Premises

When operating in customers homes, offices or other premises, our staff will act with care and consideration. This includes protecting floors and fixtures where reasonably practicable, maintaining clear walkways, and positioning items safely to avoid trips or instability.

Staff will identify and report any hazards encountered, such as poor lighting, obstructed access, loose floor coverings, or unsafe stairways. Where risks cannot be adequately controlled, work may be paused while a safer approach is agreed with the customer or, if necessary, declined.

Equipment, Tools and Personal Protective Measures

We provide suitable equipment and tools to support safe removals, such as trolleys, straps, blankets and other protective materials. All equipment is maintained in a safe condition and used only for its intended purpose.

Staff are required to wear appropriate clothing and footwear for manual handling and vehicle operations. Where particular tasks require additional protective measures, such as gloves or other items, these will be supplied and their use enforced.

Information, Instruction and Training

We ensure that everyone engaged in our work is competent to carry out their duties safely. This is supported by induction arrangements, ongoing instruction on safe working methods, and refresher guidance where needed. New staff are supervised until they demonstrate the required level of competence.

Procedures and expectations are communicated clearly, including safe conduct at customer sites, reporting requirements, and emergency arrangements. Staff are encouraged to raise safety concerns and suggest improvements at any time.

Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, injuries, near misses and damage to property must be reported promptly so that appropriate action can be taken. We investigate incidents to identify root causes and implement corrective measures to prevent recurrence.

Emergency procedures are in place for incidents such as fire, road traffic collisions and significant injuries. Staff are briefed on how to respond, including contacting emergency services and safeguarding customers and members of the public who may be affected.

Health and Wellbeing

We recognise that health and wellbeing are essential to delivering a safe and reliable removal service. We aim to manage workloads sensibly, allow reasonable rest breaks, and avoid excessive physical demands on individuals. Where staff report health issues that may affect their fitness for manual handling or driving, we will consider adjustments to duties where practicable.

Policy Review and Continuous Improvement

This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed regularly and updated when necessary to reflect changes in legislation, guidance, company operations or identified areas for improvement. We are committed to continual improvement in our safety performance, learning from experience and feedback, and maintaining high standards across all of our man and van services.

By following this policy, Man with Van Bethnal Green aims to protect everyone involved in or affected by our work and to deliver removal services that are both efficient and safely managed.