Health and Safety policy
Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van Leytonstone
Man with Van Leytonstone is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our staff, customers, visitors, and members of the public who may be affected by our removal activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with household moves, office removals, collection and delivery, and related services.
Our Health and Safety Objectives
Our primary objectives are to prevent injury, protect health, and minimise risks arising from our operations. We aim to:
Identify, assess, and control hazards related to lifting, carrying, loading, driving, and working in and around properties and vehicles.
Provide safe systems of work, appropriate instruction, and supervision for all employees and contractors.
Ensure that plant, vehicles, and equipment are maintained in a safe condition.
Promote a positive safety culture where everyone understands their responsibilities and reports hazards promptly.
Management Responsibilities
Management has overall responsibility for implementing this Health and Safety Policy and ensuring it remains suitable and effective. This includes:
Setting clear health and safety standards for removal and delivery work.
Carrying out and reviewing risk assessments for typical moving tasks and any non-routine activities.
Providing appropriate training, information, and instructions to employees and contractors.
Ensuring that vehicles, trolleys, lifting aids, and protective equipment are fit for purpose and regularly inspected.
Investigating accidents, incidents, and near misses to identify root causes and prevent recurrence.
Employee and Contractor Responsibilities
Every individual working for or on behalf of Man with Van Leytonstone has a duty to safeguard their own health and safety and that of others. All staff and contractors are expected to:
Follow the safe working procedures and instructions they are given, particularly regarding manual handling and vehicle safety.
Use equipment, tools, and vehicles correctly and only for their intended purpose.
Wear appropriate clothing and any personal protective equipment provided for specific tasks.
Report hazards, defects, near misses, accidents, or unsafe practices immediately to a supervisor or manager.
Cooperate fully with all health and safety measures introduced to protect staff, customers, and the public.
Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work
We carry out risk assessments for our services, including domestic removals, office moves, furniture collection, and item delivery. These assessments consider hazards such as heavy lifting, awkward loads, trips and slips, working at height on steps or loading ramps, and traffic risks while loading or unloading vehicles.
Based on these assessments, we develop safe systems of work that cover:
Planning of moves and deliveries to minimise manual handling and avoid unnecessary lifting.
Selecting the correct number of staff for each job, taking account of access issues and item weight.
Choosing and using suitable lifting aids such as trolleys, straps, and blankets.
Maintaining clear walkways, safe stacking, and secure loading within vehicles.
Managing customer expectations about where vehicles can safely park and how items can be safely moved.
Manual Handling and Lifting
Manual handling is a core part of our activity and a key focus of this policy. To reduce the risk of strains, sprains, and other injuries, we:
Provide guidance and instruction on correct lifting techniques, including team lifts for heavy or bulky items.
Plan loading to minimise carrying distances, stairs, and awkward manoeuvres where possible.
Encourage staff to assess each lift individually and not to attempt to move any item they believe is beyond their capability.
Use appropriate lifting aids and equipment whenever practical to reduce physical strain.
Adjust working methods when dealing with fragile, high-value, or unusually shaped items to combine safety with protection of goods.
Vehicle and Driving Safety
Our vehicles are essential to our services and must be operated safely at all times. We:
Ensure vehicles are regularly maintained, serviced, and checked before use, including tyres, lights, brakes, and securing points.
Require drivers to hold the correct licence and to follow road traffic regulations at all times.
Secure loads within vehicles using straps and restraints to prevent movement and reduce the risk of damage or injury when doors are opened.
Take care when parking and positioning vehicles close to properties, considering visibility, pedestrians, and other road users.
Encourage safe driving practices with adequate journey planning and realistic scheduling to avoid rushing.
Working at Customer Premises
We recognise that our work often takes place in domestic and commercial premises that we do not control. To manage risks effectively in these environments, we:
Assess potential hazards as soon as we arrive on site, including stairs, narrow corridors, uneven surfaces, and poor lighting.
Agree safe access routes with the customer and keep these as clear as practicable during the move.
Take reasonable steps to protect floors, walls, and doorways while maintaining safe footing and visibility.
Use additional caution when children, pets, or other occupants are present, keeping them away from moving operations wherever possible.
Personal Protective Equipment
Where risk assessments show that personal protective equipment is appropriate, we provide items such as gloves or other suitable gear. Staff are expected to use this equipment correctly whenever a task requires it and to report any loss or damage so that it can be replaced.
Training, Information, and Supervision
We provide initial and ongoing training so staff understand the hazards associated with removal work and know how to perform their duties safely. This may include induction training, on the job instruction, refreshers on manual handling, and toolbox talks on specific risks.
Supervisors monitor working practices, especially during complex moves or when new staff are involved, to ensure that safe procedures are followed consistently.
Accident Reporting and Continuous Improvement
All accidents, incidents, and near misses that occur during our services must be reported promptly. We record relevant details, investigate causes, and use the findings to improve our risk assessments, procedures, and training.
We review this Health and Safety Policy regularly and revise it when necessary to reflect changes in our operations, lessons learned from incidents, or developments in best practice. Our intention is to maintain high standards of safety for everyone involved in or affected by the work of Man with Van Leytonstone.
