Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van East Finchley
Man with Van East Finchley 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 delivery activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with our man and van and removals services.
Policy Aims and Objectives
The primary aim of this policy is to prevent injury, ill health, and damage to property arising from our moving and transport operations. We will identify, assess, and control risks associated with lifting, carrying, loading, unloading, driving, and working in customers premises.
Our objectives are to continually improve health and safety performance, comply with applicable health and safety laws and guidance, and promote safe working practices for all staff engaged in removal work.
Management Responsibilities
Management is responsible for implementing and maintaining this Health and Safety Policy. This includes providing clear instructions, appropriate equipment, and sufficient resources to manage health and safety within our removal services.
Management will ensure that all employees understand their responsibilities, receive adequate training, and follow safe systems of work when operating vehicles, handling goods, and working in and around homes, offices, and other premises.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees and contractors working with Man with Van East Finchley must take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions. Staff are required to follow all safety procedures, use equipment correctly, and immediately report hazards, near misses, accidents or unsafe conditions.
Employees must not undertake tasks for which they have not been trained, and they must comply with manual handling guidance, vehicle safety rules, and any site-specific instructions when carrying out removal work.
Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices
We carry out risk assessments for our core activities, including packing, lifting, carrying, loading and unloading vehicles, securing items for transport, and driving between locations. These assessments identify significant hazards such as slips, trips, falls, manual handling injuries, vehicle movements, and working in confined or cluttered spaces.
Safe systems of work are developed from these assessments and communicated to staff. This includes guidance on route planning, safe lifting techniques, use of trolleys and moving equipment, safe stacking of goods, and maintaining clear access routes in customer properties and loading areas.
Manual Handling and Lifting
Manual handling is a key element of our man and van operations. To reduce the risk of strains, sprains and other musculoskeletal injuries, all staff receive training on correct lifting and carrying techniques. Where practical, mechanical aids such as sack trucks, dollies, and lifting straps are used.
Employees are instructed to assess the weight, shape and stability of items before attempting to lift or move them. Team lifts are required for heavy or awkward items, and staff are encouraged to ask for assistance rather than risk injury.
Vehicles, Driving and Road Safety
Our vehicles are maintained in a roadworthy condition and subject to regular checks and servicing. Drivers must carry out daily visual inspections for tyres, lights, mirrors, and load security before each journey.
All drivers are expected to drive safely, obey road traffic laws, and allow sufficient time for journeys so that they are not pressured into unsafe driving. Loads must be properly secured to prevent movement during transit, reducing the risk of damage to property and injury to occupants or other road users.
Equipment and Personal Protective Measures
Man with Van East Finchley provides appropriate equipment for lifting, carrying and securing items. All equipment must be used in accordance with training and manufacturer instructions. Defective or damaged equipment must be reported immediately and taken out of service.
Where necessary, staff may be provided with protective gloves, footwear or other personal protective measures. Employees are required to use any safety equipment provided and to keep it in good condition.
Working at Customer Premises
Our work often takes place in homes, offices and commercial premises. On arrival, staff will assess potential hazards such as narrow staircases, uneven surfaces, low ceilings, poor lighting, and obstructions. Where possible, routes will be cleared, and protective coverings may be used to reduce slip risks and protect floors.
Customers are asked to keep children, pets and unnecessary persons away from working areas during the move to prevent accidents. Staff will take care to handle belongings safely and to respect each property while carrying out their work.
Training, Information and Supervision
We ensure that all staff receive appropriate health and safety training relevant to their role. This includes induction training, manual handling instruction, safe loading and unloading techniques, and vehicle safety awareness.
Additional training is provided as required when new equipment, vehicles or working methods are introduced. Supervision is proportionate to the level of risk and the experience of the employee, ensuring that tasks are carried out safely and effectively.
Accident Reporting and Investigation
All accidents, incidents and near misses must be reported to management as soon as reasonably possible. Records are kept of these events, and where necessary, investigations are carried out to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.
Lessons learned from incidents are used to improve our procedures, training and risk assessments, helping to prevent recurrence and enhance the safety of our man and van services.
Policy Review and Continuous Improvement
This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and updated when there are significant changes in our operations, legislation, or industry best practice. We welcome feedback from employees and customers on health and safety matters.
By working together, Man with Van East Finchley aims to maintain a safe and professional removal service across its operating area, protecting our staff, customers and the wider community.
