Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van Elm Park Removals
Man with Van Elm Park is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for our customers, employees, contractors, visitors, and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and transport activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with house moves, flat moves, office relocations, and general man and van services in our operating area.
Our Health and Safety Objectives
Our main objectives are to prevent injury, protect health, and minimise risks arising from our moving and delivery operations. We aim to conduct all work in a way that safeguards people, property, and the environment, while maintaining efficient and reliable removal services.
Management Responsibilities
Management is responsible for implementing and maintaining this Health and Safety Policy across all services provided by Man with Van Elm Park. This includes:
Ensuring compliance with applicable health and safety legislation and recognised industry standards for removal and transport work.
Providing suitable resources to identify, assess, and control health and safety risks associated with lifting, carrying, driving, and handling customer belongings.
Ensuring all employees and regular contractors receive appropriate information, instruction, and training to carry out their duties safely and competently.
Monitoring safety performance, investigating incidents and near misses, and putting in place measures to prevent recurrence.
Reviewing this policy regularly and updating it when operations, legislation, or best practices change.
Employee Responsibilities
Every member of our moving team has a duty to work safely and to cooperate with health and safety arrangements. Employees are expected to:
Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions.
Follow all health and safety instructions, training, and agreed safe systems of work, including safe lifting and manual handling techniques.
Use the equipment, tools, and personal protective equipment provided in a proper and responsible manner.
Report hazards, near misses, injuries, faulty equipment, and unsafe conditions to management as soon as possible.
Refrain from horseplay or any behaviour that could endanger themselves, their colleagues, customers, or the public.
Customer and Public Safety
We recognise our responsibility to protect customers and members of the public during removal and transport activities. To achieve this we will:
Plan moves and deliveries carefully to minimise disruption, congestion, and unsafe conditions at customer premises and in public areas.
Position vehicles, ramps, and equipment safely to avoid blocking access routes, driveways, or emergency exits.
Keep work areas as tidy as practicable, ensuring that packaging, tools, and removed items do not create trip or collision hazards.
Communicate clearly with customers about any safety precautions, restricted access areas, or necessary temporary adjustments to how spaces are used while work is in progress.
Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices
Before starting work, reasonable steps will be taken to assess risks at the property, building, or collection and delivery locations. This may include reviewing access routes, parking arrangements, stairs, lifts, and any unusual or heavy items.
Based on this assessment, we will adopt appropriate control measures, which may include:
Using correct manual handling techniques and team lifting to avoid back injuries and strains when moving furniture, appliances, and other heavy items.
Utilising moving equipment such as trolleys, dollies, straps, and blankets to reduce physical strain and protect both people and property.
Planning the order of loading and unloading to minimise handling and avoid unstable stacks or loads shifting in transit.
Taking extra care when working in confined spaces, on stairs, near fragile fixtures, or in shared access areas.
Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards
Our vehicles are essential to our man and van and removal services, and their safe operation is a priority. We are committed to:
Maintaining vehicles in a roadworthy condition through regular checks, servicing, and prompt repairs.
Ensuring drivers are properly licensed, competent, and familiar with safe driving practices and load securing requirements.
Loading and securing goods so that the weight is distributed safely, items are restrained against movement, and access doors can be opened without risk.
Allowing sufficient time for journeys to reduce pressure that might lead to unsafe driving behaviour, including speeding or risky manoeuvres.
Manual Handling and Use of Equipment
Many of our tasks involve manual handling of furniture, boxes, and bulky items. To reduce the risk of injury we will:
Encourage team lifting for large or awkward loads and avoid single-person lifting of items that exceed safe limits.
Train staff in assessing the weight, shape, and stability of items before attempting to move them.
Provide, maintain, and use appropriate moving aids, such as sack trucks and furniture sliders, where reasonably practicable.
Discourage unsafe shortcuts, such as overloading trolleys or lifting multiple heavy boxes at once.
Working Environment and Welfare
We recognise the importance of a healthy working environment for our staff. We will aim to:
Provide appropriate rest breaks, particularly on longer jobs, to reduce fatigue and maintain concentration.
Encourage suitable clothing and footwear for moving work, including sturdy, closed footwear with good grip.
Promote good hygiene and cleanliness within vehicles and any operational bases, including appropriate arrangements for handwashing and waste disposal.
Incident Reporting and Policy Review
All accidents, injuries, and near misses that occur during our work will be recorded and, where necessary, investigated. Lessons learned from these events will be used to improve our systems and training.
This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed regularly to ensure it remains appropriate for the scale and nature of our man and van and removal services. Any significant changes in our operations or in relevant legislation will result in a timely update of this policy.
By following this Health and Safety Policy, Man with Van Elm Park aims to provide a reliable, professional, and safe removal service for all customers in our service area.
