Health and Safety policy

Man with Van Haringey Health and Safety Policy

Man with Van Haringey is committed to providing removal and transport services in a manner that protects the health, safety and welfare of our workers, customers, visitors and members of the public. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risk and promoting safe working practices during collections, loading, transit and delivery.

Policy Statement and Objectives

Our objective is to prevent injuries, work-related ill health, vehicle incidents, property damage and unsafe conditions associated with our man and van and removal activities. We will comply with applicable health and safety legislation and continually seek to improve our standards through training, supervision and regular review of our procedures.

Health and safety is an integral part of how we plan and deliver our services. Every person engaged by Man with Van Haringey is expected to take reasonable care for their own safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions.

Management Responsibilities

Management has overall responsibility for implementing and maintaining this policy. This includes:

Ensuring that suitable and sufficient risk assessments are carried out for removal, loading, unloading and driving operations. Providing appropriate equipment, vehicles and protective clothing that are safe, well-maintained and fit for purpose. Making sure that all workers receive appropriate information, instruction and training relevant to their role. Investigating accidents, near misses and incidents to identify root causes and implement corrective measures. Reviewing the policy and associated procedures on a regular basis and when there are significant changes in operations.

Employee and Contractor Responsibilities

Each worker, including drivers, porters and contractors, has a duty to work safely and co-operate with the company to meet health and safety requirements. All workers must:

Follow the procedures and safe systems of work provided by Man with Van Haringey. Use vehicles, tools, lifting aids and personal protective equipment as instructed and never misuse or tamper with them. Report hazards, unsafe conditions, damaged equipment and any concerns to management without delay. Notify management of any accident, injury, near miss or vehicle incident as soon as practicable. Refrain from working under the influence of alcohol, drugs or any substance that may impair judgement or performance.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Risk assessments are carried out for typical tasks such as lifting and carrying furniture and boxes, navigating stairs and confined spaces, loading and unloading vehicles, and driving between addresses. These assessments help us to identify hazards and implement control measures to reduce risk to an acceptable level.

Workers are expected to familiarise themselves with the findings of relevant risk assessments and to follow the safe working practices derived from them. When new or unusual tasks are undertaken, a dynamic on-site assessment should be performed to identify any additional precautions required.

Manual Handling and Use of Equipment

Manual handling is a significant part of removal work and must be managed carefully to prevent musculoskeletal injuries. We promote safe lifting techniques, including assessment of the load and route before lifting, keeping the load close to the body, avoiding twisting movements while carrying items and working in pairs or teams for heavy or awkward objects.

Where practical, we use trolleys, dollies, straps and other handling aids to minimise physical strain. Only trained personnel may operate specialist equipment. Any item that is too heavy or unsafe to move manually should be reassessed and, if necessary, alternative arrangements should be made.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Vehicles used for removal and transport work must be maintained in safe, roadworthy condition. Regular checks are carried out on brakes, tyres, lights, securing points and loading areas. Drivers are responsible for conducting routine pre-use checks and reporting any defects immediately.

Loads must be evenly distributed and securely fastened to prevent movement during transit. Overloading or unsafe stacking of items is strictly prohibited. Drivers must comply with road traffic laws, drive within speed limits, adjust driving according to weather and traffic conditions and avoid distractions while driving.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

When working at customer properties or shared premises, we take steps to safeguard both the occupants and the public. Routes for moving items are planned to reduce obstruction and trip hazards. Where practical, areas may be temporarily cordoned or clearly identified as working zones.

Workers should take extra care when moving large items through common areas, entrances and corridors to prevent collisions and damage. Noise, dust and general disruption should be minimised as far as reasonably practicable.

Personal Protective Equipment

Personal protective equipment, such as safety footwear, gloves and high-visibility clothing, is provided where necessary based on the risk assessment. Workers must wear the equipment when required and keep it in good condition. Any defects or loss of equipment should be reported promptly so that replacements can be arranged.

Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, incidents, injuries and significant near misses must be reported to management as soon as possible. Accurate records are kept and reviewed to identify trends and areas for improvement.

Workers must familiarise themselves with basic emergency procedures, including what to do in the event of fire, injury, spillages or road traffic incidents. In serious cases, emergency services must be contacted without delay, and the site should be made safe for others.

Training, Communication and Review

Man with Van Haringey provides health and safety information and training appropriate to the tasks undertaken. This may include induction training, safe manual handling, vehicle safety and the correct use of equipment and protective gear.

This Health and Safety Policy is communicated to all workers and is available to customers upon request. The policy is reviewed regularly and updated where necessary to reflect changes in legislation, best practice or the nature of our services. Our aim is to continually improve our performance and maintain a safe working environment for everyone involved in our removal operations.