Health and Safety policy
Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van Uxbridge
Man with Van Uxbridge 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 delivery activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks arising from house moves, office relocations, collection and delivery services, loading and unloading, and the operation of vehicles in our service area.
Policy Aims and Responsibilities
Our aim is to prevent injury, ill health, and damage to property or the environment arising from our work. We will comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and recognised industry best practice for the removals and transport sector.
Overall responsibility for health and safety rests with the company management, who will ensure that adequate resources are provided to implement and maintain this policy. Managers and supervisors are responsible for day to day implementation, including planning of work, risk assessment, supervision, and ensuring that staff follow agreed safety procedures.
Every employee and contractor has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. All staff must cooperate with the company by following safety instructions, using equipment correctly, and reporting hazards, near misses and incidents without delay.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
We will identify and assess health and safety risks associated with our man and van services, including manual handling, use of lifting equipment, vehicle movements, working in customers premises, handling fragile or heavy items, and working in public spaces such as streets, driveways and shared access areas.
Risk assessments will be carried out by competent persons and reviewed regularly or whenever there are significant changes to work activities, equipment, vehicles or locations. Appropriate control measures will be implemented, such as safe routes for carrying items, maximum lifting weights, use of trolleys, ramps and other handling aids, and safe loading plans for vehicles.
Safe systems of work will be developed for tasks such as packing, lifting, carrying, loading, unloading, securing loads, and operating tail lifts or similar equipment. These procedures will be communicated to all relevant staff and reinforced through training and supervision.
Manual Handling and Use of Equipment
Manual handling is a core part of our removals work and is managed carefully to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries. Staff will be trained to assess loads, use team lifting where appropriate, and avoid unsafe lifting techniques such as twisting while carrying heavy objects or attempting to move loads beyond their capability.
We will provide suitable handling equipment where required, such as sack trucks, furniture dollies, straps, blankets and ramps. All equipment will be maintained in a safe condition, inspected regularly and taken out of service if any defects are identified. Staff must use the correct equipment for each task and must not misuse or modify company equipment.
Vehicles, Driving and Road Safety
The safe operation of our vans is essential in protecting staff, customers and other road users. Only authorised and appropriately licensed drivers are permitted to drive company vehicles. Drivers must obey road traffic laws, observe speed limits and drive in a manner appropriate to weather, traffic and local conditions.
Vehicles will be inspected and maintained in accordance with manufacturer recommendations and legal requirements. Pre use checks will be carried out by drivers to ensure tyres, lights, mirrors, brakes and safety equipment are in good order. Any faults or damage must be reported immediately.
Loads will be planned and secured safely to prevent movement during transit. Overloading is strictly prohibited. Access routes, parking positions and unloading points will be chosen with consideration for the safety of pedestrians, neighbours and other road users.
Working at Customer Premises
Our teams often work in homes, offices and commercial sites across our service area. Respect for customer property and safety is fundamental. On arrival, the team leader will review access routes, stairs, doorways, lifts, driveways and any shared spaces to identify hazards such as trip risks, poor lighting, uneven surfaces or restricted access.
Suitable measures will be adopted, which may include using protective coverings, planning lifting routes, requesting items to be cleared, and communicating clearly with the customer about safe access. Staff must keep work areas as tidy as reasonably practicable, avoid blocking fire exits and ensure that tools and equipment are not left where they may cause a hazard.
Personal Protective Equipment
Personal protective equipment will be provided where required by risk assessments, which may include safety footwear, protective gloves, high visibility clothing and other items appropriate to the specific task or environment.
Staff are responsible for using PPE as instructed, keeping it in good condition and reporting any loss or damage so that it can be replaced. PPE is considered a last line of defence and will be used in conjunction with other risk control measures, not as a substitute for them.
Training, Information and Supervision
We will ensure that employees receive appropriate induction training and ongoing instruction relevant to their duties. This includes training on manual handling, safe use of equipment, vehicle safety, customer care, emergency procedures, and reporting of hazards and incidents.
Supervisors and team leaders are responsible for monitoring working practices on site, correcting unsafe behaviour and reinforcing good practice. Where specialist tasks or equipment are involved, only trained and authorised staff may undertake those tasks.
Accident, Incident and Near Miss Reporting
All accidents, incidents, injuries and near misses, no matter how minor, must be reported promptly to management. This allows us to investigate the causes, identify any underlying issues and implement measures to prevent recurrence.
Records of incidents will be kept and reviewed periodically to identify trends and areas for improvement. Where required by law, incidents will be reported to the appropriate authorities. We encourage a positive reporting culture and do not tolerate any victimisation of staff who raise legitimate safety concerns.
Health, Welfare and Fitness for Work
We recognise the physical nature of removals work and the importance of staff fitness for work. Employees must not present themselves for work under the influence of alcohol, drugs or any substance that may impair their ability to work safely or drive.
Where staff have medical conditions or are taking medication that could affect their work, they must inform management so that appropriate adjustments and risk controls can be considered. Adequate rest breaks will be provided and long or strenuous jobs will be planned to reduce the risk of fatigue.
Emergency Procedures
Procedures will be in place to deal with foreseeable emergencies, such as accidents, fire, vehicle breakdowns, or incidents in public areas. Staff will be briefed on how to summon assistance, communicate with customers, secure the site and protect themselves and others from further harm.
Basic first aid provisions will be available, and staff will be informed of their location. Where appropriate, we will work with customers to coordinate emergency arrangements in shared premises or larger buildings.
Monitoring and Review of this Policy
This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed regularly, and at least annually, to ensure that it remains suitable, adequate and effective for our removal and man and van operations. Reviews will also be carried out following incidents, significant changes to our services, or updates to legal requirements or industry guidance.
We are committed to continuous improvement in health and safety performance and welcome feedback from employees, contractors and customers on how we can further enhance the safety of our services throughout our operating area.
