Health and Safety policy

Man with Van Acton Health and Safety Policy

Man with Van Acton is committed to providing a professional, safe and healthy working environment for our employees, contractors, customers and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and transportation activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out the principles and procedures we follow to manage risk and promote safe working practices in all areas of our service.

Our Health and Safety Commitments

We recognise our responsibilities under applicable health and safety legislation and are committed to continuous improvement in our safety performance. Management and staff work together to prevent accidents, injuries and work-related ill health through proactive planning, training and supervision.

Our key commitments are to:

Identify, assess and control risks associated with moving, loading, transporting and unloading goods.
Provide appropriate information, instruction, training and supervision to ensure work is carried out safely.
Maintain vehicles, equipment and tools in a safe and reliable condition.
Promote a culture where health and safety concerns are reported, discussed and acted upon without delay.
Review and update this policy regularly to reflect changes in our operations and legal requirements.

Responsibilities for Health and Safety

Health and safety is a shared responsibility across the company.

Management is responsible for:

Implementing this policy and ensuring safe systems of work.
Providing suitable training, resources and equipment to enable safe operations.
Carrying out and reviewing risk assessments and method statements.
Monitoring compliance with health and safety procedures and addressing any deficiencies.

Employees and contractors are responsible for:

Taking reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.
Following company procedures, safe working practices and instructions from supervisors.
Using vehicles, equipment and personal protective equipment correctly and reporting any defects immediately.
Reporting accidents, near misses, hazards or concerns as soon as possible.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Man with Van Acton undertakes risk assessments for key aspects of our removal and transport activities. These assessments consider the nature of the items being moved, access conditions at collection and delivery points, manual handling requirements, traffic conditions and any other relevant factors. From these assessments, we develop safe systems of work that guide how tasks are planned and completed.

Before each job, staff are expected to review the working environment and identify potential hazards such as restricted access, uneven surfaces, poor lighting, traffic movement or customer property that may present a risk. Where necessary, the job plan will be adjusted to ensure work can be completed safely, even if this means taking additional time or using alternative methods.

Manual Handling and Safe Lifting

The nature of our work involves regular lifting and moving of furniture, boxes and other items. Poor manual handling can lead to serious musculoskeletal injuries. To minimise this risk, we:

Provide training in safe lifting techniques and team lifting practices.
Encourage staff to assess the weight and shape of items before attempting to move them.
Use appropriate lifting aids and equipment where reasonably practicable.
Require team lifts for heavy, awkward or bulky items.
Instruct staff not to exceed their personal lifting capability and to request assistance when needed.

Use of Vehicles and Driving Safety

Our vehicles are essential to our removal services and must be operated safely at all times. We ensure that:

Vehicles are regularly inspected and maintained to a safe standard.
Drivers hold the correct licences and are competent to operate the vehicles they are assigned.
Loads are distributed, secured and covered where necessary to prevent movement or spillage during transit.
Drivers comply with road traffic laws, speed limits and parking regulations.
Drivers plan routes to allow sufficient time, avoid unnecessary risks and reduce driver fatigue.

Equipment, Tools and Personal Protective Equipment

Where specific equipment or tools are required to complete a job safely, Man with Van Acton will provide these and ensure they are maintained in good condition. Staff are expected to use equipment only for its intended purpose and to report any faults immediately.

Personal protective equipment may include gloves, high-visibility clothing, safety footwear and other items as identified by risk assessment. When such equipment is issued, employees are required to use it correctly and look after it with reasonable care.

Housekeeping and Protection of Property

Good housekeeping is essential for safe and efficient removals. Our staff are instructed to keep work areas as tidy as possible, minimise trip hazards from packing materials and tools, and maintain clear access routes for moving items.

We also take care to protect customer property and premises. This may include using blankets, covers, floor protection and other measures to reduce the risk of damage while ensuring that these protective materials do not create additional hazards.

Accident, Incident and Near-Miss Reporting

All accidents, incidents and near misses that occur during our work must be reported to management as soon as possible. We record this information and investigate to identify root causes and implement corrective actions. Learning from these events is used to improve our practices and prevent similar occurrences in the future.

Training, Communication and Consultation

Health and safety training is provided as part of induction for new staff and refreshed periodically. Topics may include manual handling, safe vehicle operation, use of equipment, emergency procedures and hazard awareness.

We encourage open communication on safety matters. Staff are invited to raise concerns, suggest improvements and participate in discussions about safe working methods. Where changes are made to our procedures, these are communicated clearly to all affected personnel.

Emergency Procedures

Man with Van Acton maintains basic emergency procedures for dealing with incidents such as injuries, vehicle breakdowns, fires and road traffic accidents. Staff receive guidance on:

Securing the scene and ensuring personal safety.
Contacting the appropriate emergency services when required.
Providing initial assistance within the limits of their training.
Reporting the incident to management as soon as it is safe to do so.

Policy Review

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and updated when necessary to reflect changes in legislation, industry best practice and the nature of our services. All employees are expected to familiarise themselves with the policy and follow the procedures it describes. By working together and maintaining a strong focus on safety, Man with Van Acton aims to deliver reliable, efficient and safe removal services for all customers.