Health and Safety policy

Man with Van Bermondsey Health and Safety Policy

Man with Van Bermondsey is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our workers, customers, visitors and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and transport activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out how we manage risks, promote safe working practices and comply with relevant health and safety legislation in our day-to-day operations.

Our Health and Safety Objectives

Our main objectives are to prevent injury, ill health, damage to property and avoidable disruption during house moves, office moves and general transport work. We aim to:

Identify and control health and safety risks arising from our removal activities.

Provide and maintain safe vehicles, equipment and working methods.

Ensure all workers are competent, trained and properly supervised.

Consult with workers on health and safety matters and encourage feedback.

Review and improve our procedures on a regular basis.

Management Responsibilities

The management of Man with Van Bermondsey has overall responsibility for health and safety. This includes ensuring that:

Suitable and sufficient risk assessments are carried out for removal, loading, unloading, driving and handling tasks.

Safe systems of work are developed, communicated and implemented.

Vehicles and equipment are maintained in safe working condition and inspected regularly.

Incidents, accidents and near misses are recorded, investigated and used to improve procedures.

Adequate resources are provided for training, protective equipment and safety improvements.

Employee Responsibilities

Every worker has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others. All workers for Man with Van Bermondsey must:

Follow the safety procedures and instructions provided during training and briefings.

Use equipment, tools, lifting aids and vehicles correctly and safely.

Wear any appropriate personal protective equipment when required.

Report hazards, defects, unsafe conditions or incidents promptly to management.

Cooperate with any investigation, monitoring or review of health and safety practices.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We carry out risk assessments for our removal and delivery services, including the handling of furniture, personal belongings, office equipment and other items. These assessments consider:

Manual handling risks from lifting, carrying and moving heavy or awkward objects.

Slips, trips and falls when working in client premises, stairwells, corridors and on pavements.

Vehicle-related hazards when parking, loading, unloading and driving in built-up areas.

Environmental hazards such as poor lighting, restricted access, uneven flooring or adverse weather.

Where risks are identified, we put in place control measures such as use of trolleys and lifting aids, team lifting techniques, route planning and clear communication with customers about access issues.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Moving furniture and boxes is a core part of our work, and incorrect handling can cause serious injury. Man with Van Bermondsey requires that:

Workers receive guidance in safe lifting techniques, including how to assess the load and the route before moving items.

Heavy or bulky items are moved using two or more workers whenever necessary.

Lifting aids, straps, dollies and trolleys are used where possible to reduce strain.

Loads are kept stable, secure and within the physical capability of the workers involved.

Items are not carried up or down stairs if they cannot be handled safely or if the route is obstructed or hazardous.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Our vehicles are central to our removal services, and we place strong emphasis on road safety and the safe loading of vans. We ensure that:

Vehicles are regularly checked for roadworthiness, including tyres, lights, brakes and securing points.

Loads are distributed evenly, properly secured and kept within the legal weight limits.

Drivers hold appropriate licences and follow road traffic laws at all times.

Drivers plan routes to allow for safe parking and unloading, with particular care in busy streets and residential areas.

Engines are switched off and parking brakes applied before loading or unloading begins.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

We recognise that our work often takes place in customers homes, offices and shared spaces. To protect customers and the public, we:

Assess access points, stairways and corridors before moving large items.

Keep routes as clear as possible and avoid leaving items where they could cause trips or obstruction.

Take care to protect floors, walls and doorways using appropriate coverings or padding where agreed with the customer.

Minimise noise, disruption and vehicle movements near entrances and pedestrian areas.

Communicate clearly with customers about timing, access requirements and any safety considerations.

Training and Information

Man with Van Bermondsey provides workers with suitable information and guidance relevant to their tasks. This includes:

Induction on our health and safety expectations and procedures.

Instruction in safe lifting, carrying and loading techniques.

Guidance on the correct use of trolleys, straps and other equipment.

Information on how to report hazards, incidents and near misses.

Periodic refreshers where working methods or equipment change.

Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, injuries, vehicle incidents and near misses that occur during our work must be reported to management as soon as possible. We:

Record details of incidents to help identify patterns and prevent recurrence.

Encourage early reporting of minor injuries and near misses so we can address risks before they escalate.

Cooperate with any official investigations if required by the authorities.

Ensure that workers know how to respond in an emergency, including seeking medical help when needed and making the area safe.

Monitoring and Policy Review

This Health and Safety Policy is monitored on an ongoing basis to ensure it remains effective and relevant to our removal services. We review the policy regularly and following any significant incident, change in operations or new legal requirements.

Man with Van Bermondsey is committed to continuous improvement in health and safety performance. We welcome feedback from workers and customers on any safety issues encountered during moves, as this helps us to maintain high standards of care and professionalism across our service area.