Man With a Van Manor House Health and Safety Policy

Man With a Van Manor House is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, contractors, customers, and members of the public. This Health and Safety Policy sets out how we manage and control risks associated with removals, transport, loading and unloading, and related activities.

Health and safety is an integral part of our operations across all service areas. We aim to prevent accidents, injuries, and work-related ill health through effective planning, staff training, supervision, and continuous improvement.

1. Policy Objectives

The main objectives of this Health and Safety Policy are to:

Protect the health, safety, and welfare of all persons who may be affected by our work activities.

Identify hazards associated with our removal and transport services and implement appropriate control measures.

Comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and recognised industry guidelines.

Promote a positive health and safety culture throughout the business, encouraging staff involvement and responsibility.

Continuously review and improve our health and safety standards and practices.

2. Management Responsibilities

The management of Man With a Van Manor House has overall responsibility for ensuring this Policy is implemented and maintained. This includes:

Providing clear leadership on health and safety matters.

Ensuring that adequate resources, information, and training are available for safe working.

Setting clear health and safety expectations and monitoring performance.

Ensuring that risk assessments are carried out, documented where appropriate, and reviewed regularly.

Investigating incidents and near misses to identify root causes and prevent recurrence.

Ensuring that vehicles, equipment, and tools are maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition.

3. Employee Responsibilities

All employees and operatives of Man With a Van Manor House share a responsibility for health and safety. They are required to:

Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.

Follow all safety procedures, instructions, and training provided by the company.

Use equipment, vehicles, and personal protective equipment correctly and report any defects immediately.

Report accidents, incidents, near misses, and unsafe conditions as soon as possible.

Refrain from horseplay, misuse of equipment, or any behaviour that could endanger themselves or others.

4. Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We carry out risk assessments for our activities, including packing, lifting, carrying, loading, unloading, and transporting goods. These assessments consider hazards such as manual handling, slips and trips, moving vehicles, working in confined spaces, working at height during loading, and exposure to adverse weather conditions.

Where risks cannot be eliminated, we implement control measures such as safe systems of work, use of suitable lifting equipment, team lifting techniques, traffic management at loading points, and appropriate personal protective equipment.

Staff are trained to assess each removal job on arrival, taking into account access routes, stairways, parking arrangements, and any site-specific hazards. If conditions present an unacceptable risk, work will be paused until safe solutions are agreed.

5. Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a core aspect of our removal services and is managed carefully to reduce the risk of injury. We will:

Provide manual handling training so that staff understand safe lifting techniques and load limits.

Encourage the use of mechanical aids such as trolleys, dollies, and lifting straps where reasonably practicable.

Plan loading and unloading to minimise carrying distances, awkward postures, and repetitive movements.

Require team lifts for heavy or awkward items and ensure staff do not exceed safe personal limits.

Encourage staff to speak up if a load is too heavy or the conditions are unsafe.

6. Vehicles, Driving, and Road Safety

Our vehicles are integral to our service and must be operated safely at all times. We will:

Ensure vehicles are regularly inspected, serviced, and maintained to a safe standard.

Require drivers to hold the appropriate licence and demonstrate competence for the vehicles they operate.

Promote safe driving practices, including adherence to speed limits and traffic regulations.

Prohibit driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any substance that may impair performance.

Ensure loads are securely stowed and evenly distributed to prevent shifting during transport.

Encourage journey planning to reduce fatigue and manage time pressures responsibly.

7. Customer Premises and Public Safety

We recognise that our work often takes place at customers premises and in public areas. We will:

Take care to protect customers, neighbours, and passers-by from risks arising from our activities.

Plan access routes and loading points to minimise obstruction of pavements, roads, and entrances.

Use warning signs or verbal guidance where necessary to keep people away from hazardous areas.

Take reasonable steps to avoid damage to property, fixtures, and fittings during removals.

Maintain professional and considerate conduct at all times when working in residential and commercial environments.

8. Training, Information, and Supervision

We are committed to ensuring that all staff are competent to carry out their work safely. This includes:

Providing induction training covering general health and safety responsibilities and safe working procedures.

Delivering task-specific training such as manual handling, safe loading, and the use of equipment.

Providing ongoing refresher training where necessary to maintain standards.

Ensuring supervisory checks are carried out on site to monitor and support safe working practices.

Communicating changes in procedures or identified risks effectively to all relevant staff.

9. Welfare and Occupational Health

We recognise the importance of welfare facilities and the health of our workforce. We will:

Encourage staff to take appropriate rest breaks, especially during physically demanding work.

Promote good hydration, nutrition, and awareness of the physical demands of removal work.

Monitor workloads to reduce the risk of fatigue and overexertion.

Consider reasonable adjustments for staff with health conditions or injuries where possible.

10. Consultation and Continuous Improvement

Man With a Van Manor House values input from employees and customers on health and safety matters. We will:

Encourage staff to raise concerns, hazards, or improvement suggestions without fear of reprisal.

Review accidents, incidents, and customer feedback to identify trends and areas for improvement.

Update this Policy and related procedures as legislation, best practice, or our operations change.

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains effective and relevant to the services we provide across our operating areas.