Health and Safety policy

Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van Colliers Wood

Man with Van Colliers Wood 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 removal and transport activities. We recognise our duties under relevant health and safety legislation and industry best practice, and we work proactively to prevent injury, ill health and property damage.

This policy applies to all activities carried out by Man with Van Colliers Wood, including home removals, office relocations, collection and delivery services, packing, loading, unloading, handling of furniture and equipment, and driving and operating vehicles.

Our Health and Safety Objectives

Our main objectives are to:

Identify, assess and control risks associated with our removals and transport operations.

Provide and maintain safe vehicles, equipment and working practices.

Ensure that all employees receive appropriate information, instruction and training.

Promote a positive health and safety culture across the company and within every removal team.

Consult with workers on health and safety issues and encourage feedback to improve standards.

Regularly review and update this policy to ensure it remains effective and relevant.

Management Responsibilities

Management is responsible for implementing and maintaining this policy. This includes:

Ensuring compliance with all applicable health and safety laws and regulations.

Providing suitable resources to manage health and safety, including training, supervision and equipment.

Carrying out and reviewing risk assessments for typical moving activities, such as lifting and carrying, operating trolleys, stair work, and vehicle loading.

Ensuring that all vehicles and equipment used in removal work are maintained in safe working order.

Investigating accidents, incidents and near misses, and taking corrective action to prevent recurrence.

Reviewing health and safety performance on a regular basis and updating procedures as necessary.

Employee Responsibilities

Every employee of Man with Van Colliers Wood shares responsibility for maintaining a safe working environment. All staff members 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 safety procedures, safe systems of work and instructions provided by the company.

Use vehicles, tools, lifting aids and protective equipment correctly and for their intended purpose.

Report any hazards, defects, near misses, incidents or unsafe practices immediately to a supervisor or manager.

Refrain from misusing or interfering with anything provided in the interests of health and safety.

Not undertake tasks for which they are not trained, competent or medically fit.

Customer and Public Safety

We recognise our duty to protect customers, neighbours and members of the public during removal operations. To achieve this, we will:

Plan access routes carefully to minimise risk to pedestrians and other road users.

Park vehicles safely and legally, avoiding obstruction of driveways, pavements and emergency access routes as far as reasonably practicable.

Use warning signs or verbal warnings where necessary when moving large or bulky items through shared areas such as corridors, stairwells or communal entrances.

Secure doors, gates and vehicle loading areas to prevent unauthorised access during loading and unloading.

Handle customers possessions with care to reduce the risk of damage and associated hazards, such as broken glass, sharp edges or spillages.

Safe Manual Handling and Use of Equipment

Manual handling is a significant part of our removal work. We aim to reduce the risk of injury by:

Carrying out manual handling risk assessments for typical items such as furniture, appliances and boxes.

Training staff in safe lifting techniques, team lifting, use of trolleys and the importance of avoiding overloading.

Using appropriate equipment, such as sack trucks, moving dollies, straps, blankets and ramps, to reduce strain and control loads.

Planning the removal route in advance, including checking staircases, doorways and tight corners, to avoid sudden or awkward movements.

Encouraging staff to stop and reassess when an item is too heavy, awkward or unstable to move safely.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Our vehicles are essential to our service and must be operated safely at all times. Man with Van Colliers Wood will:

Ensure that drivers hold the correct licences and are medically fit to drive.

Carry out regular checks and maintenance on vehicles, including brakes, lights, tyres, securing points and tail lifts where fitted.

Require drivers to complete basic pre-use checks and report any defects immediately.

Secure loads properly to prevent movement during transit, using straps and other securing devices where appropriate.

Promote safe driving practices, including adherence to speed limits, driving breaks and consideration for other road users.

Training, Information and Supervision

We provide appropriate training and supervision to ensure that employees are competent in their roles and aware of safety requirements. This includes:

Induction training on company health and safety procedures.

Task-specific training for manual handling, use of equipment and safe loading.

Ongoing refresher training where needed, particularly when new risks, equipment or procedures are introduced.

Supervision of newer or less experienced staff until they are assessed as competent to work more independently.

Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, injuries, near misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported promptly so that they can be investigated and lessons learned. We will:

Maintain records of accidents and incidents and review them to identify trends.

Provide guidance to staff on what to do in the event of an accident, fire, spill or other emergency during a removal job.

Ensure that vehicles carry basic emergency equipment, where suitable, such as first aid provisions and high-visibility clothing.

Monitoring and Review

Man with Van Colliers Wood is committed to continuous improvement in health and safety performance. This policy, along with associated procedures, will be monitored and reviewed regularly, and updated as required to reflect changes in legislation, working practices or the nature of our removal services.

This Health and Safety Policy is communicated to all employees and is available to customers on request. All members of the company are expected to cooperate fully with its implementation to help maintain a safe and professional removal service.