Health and Safety policy
Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van West Harrow
Man with Van West Harrow is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our workers, customers, and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and transport activities. This Health and Safety policy sets out our objectives, responsibilities, and working practices to prevent accidents, injuries, and damage to property during moves and deliveries.
Our Health and Safety Objectives
Our main health and safety objectives are to prevent injury, protect property, minimise disruption, and comply with relevant health and safety requirements for removal and transport work. We aim to achieve this by planning each job carefully, training workers in safe techniques, and maintaining vehicles and equipment in good condition.
Management Responsibilities
Management of Man with Van West Harrow is responsible for implementing and reviewing this policy. We will ensure that health and safety is considered in all operational decisions, that workers are given suitable information and instruction, and that necessary equipment and resources are provided to carry out work safely.
Management will regularly monitor working practices, respond promptly to any reports of hazards or incidents, and review this policy periodically to reflect changes in our services, working methods, or legal requirements.
Employee and Contractor Responsibilities
All workers engaged by Man with Van West Harrow, including drivers, porters and any subcontractors, share responsibility for maintaining safe standards of work. They must take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.
Workers are expected to follow all health and safety instructions, use equipment correctly, avoid taking unnecessary risks, and immediately report any hazards, near misses, or incidents to management. Any worker who is unsure how to complete a task safely must seek guidance before proceeding.
Risk Assessment and Job Planning
Before starting a removal or delivery, we will consider the specific risks associated with the property, access routes, and items being moved. This includes assessing stairs, lifts, parking arrangements, distance to the vehicle, and any time restrictions that may affect safe working.
Where significant hazards are identified, we will plan appropriate control measures, such as using additional manpower, allocating more time, using handling aids, or adjusting the route to avoid obstructions and trip hazards. If a job cannot be carried out safely, work will be stopped until a safe method is agreed.
Safe Manual Handling of Goods
Manual handling is a core part of removal work, and we take care to minimise the risk of strain and injury. Workers are trained to assess the weight and shape of items before lifting, to work within their physical limits, and to ask for assistance when required.
Whenever possible, trolleys, dollies, straps and other handling aids will be used, especially for heavy, bulky, or awkward loads. Safe lifting techniques are to be followed at all times, including keeping loads close to the body, avoiding twisting while carrying items, and using team lifts for particularly heavy objects.
Protection of Customers, Public and Property
We are committed to protecting our customers, members of the public, and their property during all moving activities. We will keep access routes as clear as possible, use safe loading and unloading practices, and take precautions to prevent items from falling or causing obstruction.
Protective materials such as blankets, covers and floor protection will be used where appropriate to reduce the risk of damage. Workers must show respect for customers premises, follow any reasonable house rules communicated by the customer, and avoid creating unnecessary noise or disturbance.
Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards
Our vehicles are essential to the safe delivery of removal services. We will maintain our vans in a roadworthy condition, arranging regular servicing and safety checks as recommended by the manufacturer and required by law.
Drivers must hold the correct licence, obey speed limits, and drive responsibly at all times, taking into account road conditions and the nature of the load. Loads must be distributed securely to prevent movement during transit, with appropriate use of straps and restraints. Drivers are not permitted to operate vehicles if they are unfit to drive for any reason.
Use of Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment
Where equipment is provided to assist with moving tasks, it must be used in accordance with any instructions and training. Workers must inspect equipment before use and report any defects immediately so it can be repaired or replaced.
Personal protective equipment such as gloves, hi-visibility clothing or safety footwear will be used where the job requires it. All workers are expected to wear such equipment correctly and look after it so it remains in good condition.
Injury, Incident and Near Miss Reporting
Any accident, injury, damage to property, or near miss occurring during work for Man with Van West Harrow must be reported to management as soon as possible. Accurate reporting allows us to investigate what happened and take steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Where necessary, we will record details of the incident, share findings with workers, and review procedures or risk assessments. Cooperation with any incident investigation is a condition of working for the company.
Training, Information and Communication
We will provide workers with suitable information and guidance on health and safety matters relevant to removal and transport services. This may include induction briefings, on-the-job instruction, refresher guidance and updates when procedures change.
Workers are encouraged to raise any health and safety concerns, suggestions for improvement, or questions about safe working practices. Open communication helps us maintain and improve standards across all areas of our service.
Policy Review and Continuous Improvement
This Health and Safety policy is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains effective, relevant and aligned with our operations. We will update the policy when there are material changes to our services, working environments or applicable safety requirements.
By following this policy, Man with Van West Harrow aims to deliver efficient and reliable removal services while safeguarding the wellbeing of our workers, customers and the wider community in every job we undertake.
