Health and Safety policy

Man with Van Hackney Health and Safety Policy

This Health and Safety Policy sets out the commitment of Man with Van Hackney to provide a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, contractors, customers and members of the public. Our services include domestic and commercial removals, packing, loading, unloading and transportation of goods. Safety is integral to all planning and delivery of our work.

Our Health and Safety Commitment

Man with Van Hackney is committed to preventing injury, ill health, property damage and environmental harm arising from our activities. We aim to identify and control risks associated with lifting and carrying, vehicle movements, working in and around client premises and handling customer property.

We will comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and recognised industry good practice and will review our arrangements regularly to ensure they remain suitable and effective for our removal operations.

Responsibilities and Accountability

Overall responsibility for health and safety rests with the company management, who are accountable for ensuring that appropriate systems, resources and supervision are in place. Management will:

Provide clear instructions, information and training to workers.
Ensure vehicles and equipment used for removals are maintained in a safe condition.
Promote a positive safety culture where staff are encouraged to report hazards and near misses.
Review incidents and implement improvements where required.

All employees, drivers and porters also have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. They must:

Follow the safe working procedures set out in this policy and in any site specific instructions.
Use equipment correctly and not misuse or interfere with anything provided for safety.
Report hazards, unsafe conditions, accidents and near misses to management promptly.
Cooperate with any investigation or corrective action following an incident.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Before starting any removal, we will assess the risks associated with the job, taking into account the nature and weight of items, access routes, stairs, parking arrangements and any site specific hazards. Where necessary, we will adapt our working method, manpower levels or equipment to manage these risks.

Our safe working practices for removal services include:

Planning lifts to avoid overloading and awkward handling.
Using appropriate moving equipment such as trolleys and straps where necessary.
Securing loads safely inside vehicles to prevent movement during transit.
Checking floors, stairs and external access routes for trip, slip or structural hazards before use.
Ensuring adequate lighting in work areas and access ways wherever reasonably practicable.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a key element of our work and a significant source of potential injury. To control this risk we will:

Provide training in correct lifting techniques and team lifting procedures.
Avoid single person lifts of heavy or awkward items wherever possible.
Use mechanical aids where reasonably practicable to reduce strain.
Plan moves so that routes are clear and free from obstructions before lifting begins.
Encourage workers to stop and reassess if a lift feels unsafe or beyond their capability.

Vehicles, Driving and Transport Safety

Our vehicles are essential to our removal services and must be operated safely to protect drivers, passengers, other road users and pedestrians. We will:

Ensure vehicles are regularly serviced and inspected, with any faults addressed promptly.
Check tyres, lights, brakes and securing points before long journeys or heavy loads.
Require drivers to hold the appropriate driving licence and to follow road traffic laws at all times.
Plan routes and parking to minimise reversing and manoeuvring in confined or busy areas.
Secure loads so they cannot shift during transport, avoiding overloading or unbalanced loading.

Protection of Customers, Property and the Public

We recognise our duty to protect customers, their property and members of the public during moves. Our teams will:

Work tidily and keep walkways and entrances clear of equipment and packing materials.
Place warning signs or verbally alert people where there is a risk from moving items or vehicles.
Take reasonable steps to prevent damage to floors, walls, doors and fixtures while moving items.
Respect client premises and follow any specific site rules relevant to safety and security.
Minimise noise, obstruction and disruption in residential streets and shared access areas.

Training, Information and Supervision

We provide our staff with information and training appropriate to their role. This may include induction training, manual handling instruction, safe use of equipment, vehicle safety and site specific protocols. Less experienced workers are supervised by senior team members until they are competent to work independently.

Health and safety information is communicated through briefings, job instructions and ongoing discussions. Workers are encouraged to raise concerns or suggestions for improving safety at any time.

Accidents, Incidents and First Aid

All accidents, near misses or damage incidents arising from our activities must be reported to management as soon as reasonably practicable. We will record and investigate these events in order to identify root causes and prevent recurrence.

Our vehicles carry basic first aid supplies appropriate to the nature of our work. At least one person in the team will be familiar with basic first aid procedures so that an initial response can be provided while awaiting professional medical assistance if required.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

Man with Van Hackney monitors its health and safety performance through incident records, staff feedback and periodic inspections of vehicles, equipment and working practices. This policy, along with any associated procedures, will be reviewed regularly and updated when necessary due to changes in legislation, guidance, our services or lessons learned from incidents.

All staff are made aware of the current version of this Health and Safety Policy, and adherence to it is a condition of working for or on behalf of Man with Van Hackney. By working together and following these principles, we aim to deliver efficient, reliable removal services while maintaining a safe environment for everyone involved.