Health and Safety policy

Man with Van Mottingham Health and Safety Policy

Man with Van Mottingham is committed to providing safe, reliable and professional removal and transport services. The health, safety and welfare of our workers, customers, members of the public and anyone affected by our activities are central to how we operate. This Health and Safety policy sets out our approach to preventing accidents, injuries and damage during all moving, loading, unloading and transport tasks.

Policy Statement and Objectives

Our objective is to carry out all removal and delivery work in a way that minimises risk, prevents injury and protects property. We aim to:

Identify and control risks associated with lifting, carrying, loading, unloading and vehicle movements.

Provide safe systems of work, suitable equipment and appropriate training and information.

Ensure that vehicles used for removal work are safe, roadworthy and suitable for the tasks undertaken.

Promote a positive safety culture in which hazards are reported promptly and dealt with effectively.

Continuously review and improve our health and safety arrangements.

Roles and Responsibilities

Overall responsibility for health and safety lies with the business owner or manager. They are responsible for ensuring that this policy is implemented, reviewed regularly and communicated to all workers and contractors.

All staff, including drivers and porters, have a duty to:

Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.

Follow all safety instructions, procedures and training provided.

Use equipment correctly and report any faults or damage immediately.

Cooperate with management in implementing this policy.

Report hazards, near misses, accidents and incidents without delay.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

We carry out risk assessments for our typical removal and transport activities. These assessments consider hazards associated with manual handling, awkward access, staircases, heavy or fragile items, traffic movements, weather and working at the kerbside.

Based on these assessments, we put in place safe systems of work, which may include:

Planning routes and access points before starting a job.

Assessing stairways, narrow corridors and parking restrictions on arrival.

Deciding the number of workers needed to move items safely.

Using lifting aids and appropriate handling techniques.

Securing loads safely inside vehicles to prevent movement in transit.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a key part of our removal services and is managed carefully to reduce the risk of strain, injury and damage to property. We follow these principles:

Assess the weight, size and shape of items before lifting.

Use two person lifts or additional help for heavy, bulky or awkward loads.

Utilise equipment such as trolleys, dollies, straps and blankets where appropriate.

Encourage staff to use safe lifting techniques, keeping loads close to the body and avoiding twisting.

Refuse to move items that present an unacceptable level of risk without adjustments or additional support.

Vehicle and Driving Safety

We acknowledge that safe driving and vehicle use are essential to our health and safety performance. To support this, we:

Ensure vehicles are maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition, with regular checks on tyres, lights, brakes and securing points.

Require drivers to hold the appropriate licence, be medically fit to drive and comply with road traffic laws.

Encourage journey planning to minimise stress, avoid unnecessary reversing where possible and choose safe stopping and loading points.

Instruct drivers to avoid using handheld devices while driving and to park safely before taking calls.

Secure all loads inside the vehicle to prevent shifting during transport, which may affect vehicle stability and cause injury when doors are opened.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

We conduct our work at customers homes, business premises and public locations with care for everyone present. Our teams:

Work tidily, keeping access routes as clear as reasonably possible.

Use hazard awareness when loading or unloading near roads or pavements.

Take precautions to avoid trips, slips and falls, for example by managing trailing straps or equipment.

Protect surfaces and property with blankets and suitable coverings where appropriate.

Inform customers of any significant safety concerns we identify during the job, such as structural issues or unsafe access.

Training, Information and Supervision

We provide workers with information about this policy and the safe working practices that apply to their role. This includes:

Instruction in manual handling techniques and the correct use of lifting aids.

Guidance on safe driving, loading and securing of goods.

Awareness of hazards in domestic and commercial environments.

Information on reporting procedures for accidents, incidents and health concerns.

Where required, new workers are supervised until they are competent to work safely without direct oversight.

Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, near misses and significant incidents must be reported to the business owner or manager as soon as possible. We record relevant details and, where necessary, review our procedures to prevent recurrence.

In the event of an emergency, such as injury, fire, collision or dangerous occurrence, workers are expected to:

Prioritise the safety of people and call the emergency services where required.

Follow any site specific emergency instructions when working at customer or third party premises.

Make the area safe so far as they are able, without putting themselves or others at additional risk.

Inform management promptly and cooperate with any follow up investigation.

Wellbeing and Fitness for Work

We recognise that removal work can be physically demanding. Workers are expected to attend work fit for duty, free from the influence of alcohol or drugs and capable of carrying out their tasks safely. Any health conditions or injuries that may affect the ability to work safely should be disclosed so that appropriate adjustments can be considered.

Review of Policy

This Health and Safety policy is reviewed regularly and updated when necessary to reflect changes in legislation, best practice or the nature of our services. All workers and contractors are expected to familiarise themselves with the current version and to contribute to maintaining a safe working environment on every job.