Health and Safety policy
Health and Safety Policy for Man and a Van Shepherds Bush
Man and a Van Shepherds Bush is committed to providing a safe, healthy and secure working environment for our employees, contractors, customers and members of the public who may be affected by our activities. This Health and Safety policy sets out our principles and arrangements for managing safety during all removal and delivery operations.
Our Commitment to Health and Safety
We recognise that professional removal and transport services carry specific risks, including manual handling, driving, loading and unloading, and working in and around customer premises. Our aim is to prevent injury, ill health and damage to property by planning our work carefully and following safe systems at all times.
We will comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and industry guidance that apply to our work. We will also seek to continually improve our standards by reviewing performance, learning from experience and adopting good practice across our services.
Responsibilities
Overall responsibility for health and safety rests with the company management, who will ensure that adequate resources, time and training are provided to implement this policy. Management is responsible for:
Ensuring risk assessments are carried out and reviewed regularly, putting appropriate control measures in place, providing safe equipment and vehicles, maintaining a culture where safety concerns can be raised, and monitoring compliance with this policy.
All employees and contractors are responsible for:
Taking reasonable care of their own health and safety, cooperating with management on health and safety matters, following safe working procedures and training, using equipment correctly, and reporting hazards, near misses, accidents or unsafe conditions immediately.
Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices
Before each removal or delivery job, we will consider the specific hazards associated with the work. Where required, a risk assessment will be completed to identify potential risks and methods for reducing them. This may include access to the property, stairways and lifts, parking and loading areas, weather conditions, and the nature, size and weight of items to be moved.
Safe working procedures will be followed for tasks such as lifting and carrying, using trolleys and lifting aids, loading vehicles, securing loads for transport, and working in confined or shared spaces. Special care is taken when handling fragile, bulky or heavy items to prevent both injury and damage.
Manual Handling and Use of Equipment
Manual handling is a key part of removal work and is controlled as far as reasonably practicable. Staff receive manual handling guidance and are instructed to:
Assess the load before lifting, ask for assistance with heavy or awkward items, use handling aids where available, keep pathways clear, and avoid unsafe lifting techniques or overreaching.
All equipment such as trolleys, straps and blankets is checked regularly for defects. Any damaged or unsafe equipment is taken out of use immediately and reported to management for repair or replacement.
Vehicle Safety and Driving
Our vehicles are maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition in line with legal requirements and manufacturer recommendations. Regular checks are carried out on brakes, tyres, lights, mirrors and securing points for loads.
Drivers are expected to operate vehicles safely and responsibly, observe speed limits and traffic regulations, allow sufficient time for journeys to avoid rushing, secure all loads so they cannot shift during transit, and avoid driving when fatigued or unwell. Mobile phones and electronic devices must not be used while driving, other than lawful hands-free use where it is safe to do so.
Customer Premises and Public Safety
We take all reasonable steps to safeguard customers, their property and members of the public while carrying out our services. This includes planning access routes to minimise disruption, using warning where work may affect others, keeping exits and walkways clear, and placing items and equipment in safe positions at all times.
Where there are shared spaces such as communal hallways, pavements or driveways, our staff will remain alert to other users and adjust working methods to prevent slips, trips, collisions or obstruction.
Training, Information and Supervision
We provide our staff with suitable information and guidance relevant to their tasks. This includes induction information on company health and safety expectations, job-specific instructions on lifting, loading and property protection, and guidance on safe driving, fatigue management and incident reporting.
New or inexperienced staff will be supervised as required, and no one will be asked to undertake tasks for which they are not competent. Where necessary, additional guidance or refresher information will be provided.
Accidents, Incidents and Near Misses
All accidents, injuries, near misses and instances of property damage must be reported to management as soon as possible. We will record these events and, where appropriate, investigate the causes so that lessons can be learned and further incidents prevented.
Corrective actions may include revising working methods, providing additional guidance, reviewing risk assessments, or improving equipment and vehicle arrangements.
Welfare and Occupational Health
We recognise the physical nature of removal work and the potential for fatigue and strain. Staff are encouraged to take appropriate breaks, stay hydrated and use correct lifting techniques. No employee should feel pressured to work in a way that compromises their health or safety.
Any concerns about health conditions that may affect the ability to carry out work safely should be raised with management so that suitable adjustments or controls can be considered.
Policy Review
This Health and Safety policy will be reviewed regularly and updated when necessary to reflect changes in legislation, best practice, our services or the nature of the risks we manage. We are committed to working with our staff and customers to maintain high standards of safety in all removal and transport activities undertaken by Man and a Van Shepherds Bush.
