Health and Safety policy

Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van Twickenham

Man with Van Twickenham is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for all employees, contractors, customers and members of the public who may be affected by our home and office removal services. This Health and Safety policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with moving, lifting, loading, transport and on-site work.

Our Health and Safety Objectives

Our primary objective is to prevent accidents, injuries and work-related ill health. We aim to achieve this by identifying hazards, assessing risks, implementing appropriate control measures and regularly reviewing our working practices. All staff are required to act responsibly and follow company procedures to protect themselves, their colleagues and our customers.

Management Responsibilities

Management is responsible for ensuring that this policy is implemented and maintained. This includes:

Providing adequate resources for health and safety, ensuring that vehicles and equipment are suitable, safe and regularly maintained, developing safe systems of work for all removal and delivery activities, providing information, instruction and supervision to support safe working, monitoring performance and investigating incidents to prevent recurrence.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees and regular subcontractors working on behalf of Man with Van Twickenham have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. This includes:

Following all safety instructions and company procedures, using equipment and vehicles correctly and safely, wearing any required personal protective equipment, reporting hazards, near misses, accidents or unsafe conditions without delay, co operating with management on all health and safety matters, attending any required training or safety briefings.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We conduct risk assessments for typical removal tasks, including packing, handling, loading, unloading and transport. For higher risk or unusual jobs, we may carry out specific site assessments. Control measures may include:

Planning safe access routes and parking for loading and unloading, assessing weight, size and stability of items before lifting or moving, using mechanical aids or additional staffing for heavy or awkward loads, ensuring clear communication between team members during complex manoeuvres, avoiding unnecessary manual handling where safer alternatives are available.

Manual Handling and Lifting

The nature of removals and man and van services involves frequent lifting and carrying. To reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries, we:

Provide instruction on safe lifting techniques and team lifting, discourage staff from attempting to move loads that are too heavy or awkward to handle alone, encourage the use of trolleys, dollies, straps and other aids whenever appropriate, plan lifts in advance, including route, resting points and any obstacles, remind staff to take breaks where needed to avoid fatigue and overexertion.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Our vehicles are essential to our removal services and must be operated safely at all times. We:

Ensure vehicles are regularly inspected and maintained, check tyres, lights, brakes and load securing points, load vehicles in a way that maintains stability and prevents movement of goods in transit, require drivers to follow road traffic laws and safe driving practices, discourage the use of mobile phones or other distractions while driving, ensure drivers take appropriate rest breaks to reduce fatigue.

Safe Loading and Unloading

The loading and unloading of vehicles is a critical part of our work. To protect staff and customers, we:

Mark and maintain safe working areas around vehicles where possible, keep loading areas clear of unnecessary obstacles and trip hazards, use appropriate lifting methods and aids for bulky or fragile items, secure items within the vehicle to prevent shifting during travel, take extra care when working on ramps, steps, driveways and uneven surfaces.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

We recognise that our work often takes place in and around homes, offices and public areas. Our teams will:

Respect and protect customer property and belongings while working, place protective coverings where necessary to reduce risk of slips or damage, keep access routes as clear as possible while moving items, use caution when opening doors, manoeuvring large items and using stairways, maintain professional conduct and minimise disruption to neighbours and the public.

Equipment, Tools and Personal Protective Equipment

We provide and maintain suitable equipment for removal tasks. Staff are expected to:

Inspect tools and removal equipment before use and report defects, never use damaged or faulty equipment, use personal protective equipment such as gloves, safety footwear or high visibility clothing where required, store equipment securely to prevent accidents when not in use.

Training, Communication and Consultation

We provide appropriate induction and on the job training to ensure that everyone understands how to work safely. This may include manual handling guidance, vehicle loading procedures and safe use of equipment. We encourage open communication so that staff can raise concerns or suggest improvements to health and safety arrangements.

Accident, Incident and Near Miss Reporting

All accidents, incidents and near misses related to our removal activities must be reported as soon as possible to management. We keep records of these events and investigate where appropriate to identify causes and implement corrective actions. Lessons learned are shared with relevant staff to help prevent similar events in future.

Drugs, Alcohol and Fitness for Work

Employees and subcontractors must be fit for work at all times while performing duties for Man with Van Twickenham. The use of drugs or alcohol that could impair judgment, coordination or reaction times while on duty, driving or handling loads is strictly prohibited. Any concerns about fitness for work should be reported immediately.

Fire Safety and Emergency Arrangements

When working at customer premises, our teams will familiarise themselves with available escape routes and any relevant fire safety instructions provided by the occupier. In the event of an emergency, the safety of people takes priority over goods. Staff will follow local emergency procedures, leave the area quickly and safely, and notify the appropriate services where needed.

Policy Review and Continuous Improvement

This Health and Safety policy is reviewed periodically and whenever there are significant changes to our operations, vehicles, equipment or legal requirements. We are committed to continuous improvement and welcome feedback from staff and customers on ways to make our removal services safer and more efficient.

By choosing Man with Van Twickenham, customers can be confident that their move is carried out with a strong focus on health, safety and professional standards at every stage of the service.