Man with Van Barnet Health and Safety Policy

Man with Van Barnet is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, contractors, customers and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and transportation activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out the principles and procedures we follow to minimise risks during domestic and commercial moves, deliveries and related services.

Policy Aims and Objectives

The aim of this policy is to prevent accidents, injuries and work-related ill health arising from our operations. We seek to achieve this by identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing effective control measures for all moving and handling tasks, transport activities and site work at customers premises.

Our objectives include continual improvement in health and safety performance, full compliance with relevant health and safety legislation and industry best practice, clear communication of responsibilities and maintaining a safety-first culture across all aspects of our removal services.

Management Responsibilities

Management at Man with Van Barnet has overall responsibility for health and safety. This includes ensuring suitable resources are provided to implement this policy, maintaining up-to-date risk assessments, establishing safe systems of work, providing appropriate equipment and arranging regular training and supervision for staff.

Management will review health and safety performance periodically, update procedures where necessary and ensure that new services, vehicles or equipment are introduced only after proper assessment of potential risks.

Employee Responsibilities

Every employee has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others affected by their actions or omissions at work. Staff must follow all safety procedures, use equipment correctly, attend training sessions and cooperate fully with management on health and safety matters.

Employees are required to report hazards, near misses, accidents and unsafe practices immediately so that corrective actions can be taken. Staff must not attempt tasks for which they are not trained or that they believe cannot be carried out safely.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Before starting a job, appropriate risk assessments will be carried out to identify potential hazards related to access routes, stairways, parking, loading and unloading points, lifting requirements and environmental conditions. These assessments will determine the safest methods for handling goods, positioning vehicles and protecting people on and around the site.

Safe working practices will be documented and communicated to the team. Where conditions change or new information becomes available, risk assessments will be reviewed and methods adapted to maintain safe operations.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a core part of our removal services, and it is managed carefully to minimise the risk of injury. Staff receive training in correct lifting techniques, team lifting and the use of handling aids such as trolleys and straps. Heavy or awkward items will be assessed individually to determine the safest handling method.

No employee is expected to lift or carry items that exceed safe limits or that cannot be handled without significant risk. Where necessary, additional staff or specialist equipment will be used to move large or fragile items safely.

Use of Equipment and Vehicles

All company vehicles and equipment used for moving and transportation must be kept in a safe and roadworthy condition. Vehicles will be maintained according to recommended schedules and subject to regular checks. Any defects must be reported immediately and the vehicle or equipment taken out of use if safety is compromised.

Loads must be distributed evenly, secured properly and kept within the permitted weight limits of the vehicle. Drivers are responsible for safe driving practices, adherence to traffic laws and ensuring that passengers use seat belts at all times.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

When working at customer premises, our staff will take all reasonable steps to protect both the occupants and the public. This includes maintaining clear walkways, controlling access to work areas, using protective coverings where appropriate and avoiding obstruction of pavements, entrances or emergency exits.

Where possible, loading and unloading will be arranged to minimise disruption to neighbours and other road users. Staff will remain considerate of noise levels, positioning of vehicles and the safe movement of items through shared spaces.

Training, Instruction and Supervision

Man with Van Barnet provides all necessary health and safety training relevant to staff roles, including induction training, manual handling, use of equipment, vehicle safety and emergency procedures. Refresher training will be given when required, particularly when introducing new equipment or working methods.

Supervision is provided to ensure that safety procedures are followed on every job. Less experienced staff will be supported by more experienced colleagues or managers until they are competent to work independently.

Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, incidents and near misses must be reported promptly to management, recorded and investigated to identify causes and prevent recurrence. Corrective actions will be implemented and communicated to relevant staff members.

Emergency procedures, including response to injuries, fire and road incidents, are explained to staff during training. Employees must familiarise themselves with these procedures and follow them in the event of an emergency while ensuring their own safety and that of others.

Health, Welfare and Fitness to Work

We recognise the physical nature of removal work and the importance of fitness for the role. Staff are encouraged to raise any health concerns that may affect their ability to carry out tasks safely. No employee should work under the influence of alcohol, drugs or any substance that impairs judgement or performance.

Reasonable steps will be taken to manage fatigue, including appropriate breaks and realistic scheduling of jobs. Drinking water and rest facilities will be made available where possible during longer assignments.

Policy Review and Continuous Improvement

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes to our services, vehicles, staffing or applicable regulations. Feedback from employees and customers is welcomed to help improve our safety standards and working practices.

By following this policy, Man with Van Barnet aims to deliver reliable and efficient removal services while maintaining a strong and consistent focus on the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved.