Health and Safety Policy for Man With a Van Whitechapel

Man With a Van Whitechapel is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, contractors, customers, and members of the public who may be affected by our removals and transport activities. This Health and Safety policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with moving, lifting, loading, unloading, and transporting goods.

Policy Statement and Objectives

Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health, and damage to property during all stages of our moving and transport operations. We aim to achieve this by identifying hazards, assessing risks, implementing control measures, and continuously improving our health and safety performance. Management is responsible for providing clear guidance, suitable equipment, and appropriate training so that all work is carried out safely and efficiently.

Legal and Regulatory Responsibilities

We recognise our duties under applicable health and safety legislation and associated regulations. We will take all reasonably practicable steps to meet these obligations, including maintaining safe systems of work, ensuring the safe use of vehicles and equipment, and supporting the health, safety, and welfare of our workers. All staff are required to co-operate with these responsibilities and follow the procedures described in this policy.

Responsibilities of Management and Staff

Management is responsible for planning and supervising removal operations to ensure that health and safety considerations are fully integrated into our services. This includes risk assessment, route planning, equipment selection, and staff deployment. Supervisors and team leaders must monitor working practices on site and intervene immediately if unsafe behaviour or conditions are identified.

All staff have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. They must follow training, instructions, and safe systems of work, use equipment properly, and report hazards, defects, incidents, or near misses to management without delay. No employee is required or permitted to undertake work that they believe to be unsafe.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Before each job, a basic risk assessment will be carried out covering access, parking, lifting requirements, environmental conditions, and any specific customer needs. Where higher risks are identified, additional control measures will be implemented, such as using extra staff, specialised equipment, or alternative methods of handling.

Our safe working practices for removal and transport work include planning the sequence of loading and unloading, identifying fragile or heavy items, using appropriate lifting techniques, and maintaining clear communication within the team. We will adapt our approach to suit different properties, such as flats, houses, offices, and storage facilities, while always prioritising safety.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling of furniture, boxes, and equipment is a core part of our removals service and presents significant risk if not managed correctly. We will avoid hazardous manual handling where possible by using mechanical aids such as trollies, skates, and lifting straps. When manual handling is necessary, staff are trained to assess the load, the route, and their own capability before lifting.

Safe lifting practices include testing the weight of items before moving, keeping loads close to the body, avoiding twisting, sharing the load where appropriate, and using team lifts for heavier or awkward objects. Items that exceed safe manual handling limits will only be moved using suitable equipment or additional personnel.

Vehicles, Driving, and Load Security

Our vehicles are maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition in line with manufacturer guidance and legal requirements. Drivers must complete basic checks before use and report any defects so they can be addressed promptly. Only authorised and competent personnel are permitted to drive company vehicles.

During loading, we ensure that items are arranged and secured to prevent movement while in transit. Heavy items are placed low and distributed to keep the vehicle stable. Straps, blankets, and other protection are used to secure and preserve goods. Drivers must obey all traffic laws and drive in a manner that protects passengers, other road users, and the load being carried.

Safe Access, Site Conditions, and Customer Premises

Our teams will assess access routes, stairways, lifts, doorways, and surrounding areas before work begins. We will take reasonable steps to minimise slip, trip, and fall risks by managing cables, tools, and materials and keeping walkways as clear as possible. Where appropriate, floor protection, corner protection, and other measures will be used to reduce the risk of damage and accidents.

We ask customers to support safety on site by advising us of any known hazards, such as loose flooring, low ceilings, or restricted access, and by keeping children, pets, and unnecessary persons away from the work area. Where conditions are judged to be unsafe, work may be paused until the risk can be suitably controlled.

Equipment, Personal Protective Equipment, and Maintenance

All equipment used in our removal services, including trollies, ramps, straps, and protective materials, must be suitable for the task and maintained in good condition. Defective equipment will be taken out of service immediately. Regular checks are carried out to ensure the continued safety and reliability of our tools and accessories.

Where required, staff will be provided with personal protective equipment such as safety footwear and gloves. Employees must use the equipment provided in accordance with their training and must not modify or misuse any item issued for safety purposes.

Training, Information, and Supervision

We are committed to providing appropriate health and safety training for all employees. This includes induction training, manual handling techniques, safe use of equipment, vehicle safety, and emergency procedures relevant to removal and delivery work. Refresher training will be given where necessary, and additional guidance will be provided when new risks or methods are introduced.

Supervision is proportionate to the risk and complexity of each job. Less experienced staff will be supported by more experienced colleagues, and all team members are encouraged to raise health and safety concerns openly and promptly.

Accidents, Incidents, and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, incidents, and near misses occurring during our operations must be reported to management as soon as practicable. This enables us to investigate the causes, record findings, and take corrective actions to prevent recurrence. Where necessary, incidents will be escalated in line with legal requirements.

Emergency procedures, including fire precautions, evacuation routes, and first aid arrangements, will be discussed where relevant at the start of the job. Staff must follow the emergency arrangements in place at customer premises and co-operate with building management or emergency services if required.

Monitoring, Review, and Continuous Improvement

We will monitor the effectiveness of this Health and Safety policy through regular reviews of working practices, equipment condition, incident reports, and staff feedback. Where improvements are identified, we will update our procedures, training, or equipment accordingly.

This policy is reviewed periodically and whenever there are significant changes in our operations, relevant legislation, or identified risks. The most current version of the policy is the one that applies to all work undertaken by Man With a Van Whitechapel.