Health and Safety policy
Man with Van Kingsbury Health and Safety Policy
Man with Van Kingsbury is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, customers, subcontractors, and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and transport services. We recognise that effective health and safety management is an integral part of delivering efficient, reliable, and professional moving services.
Policy Aims and Objectives
The purpose of this Health and Safety Policy is to set out our approach to managing risks associated with man and van, removal, and delivery operations. Our objectives are to prevent injury, ill health, and property damage by identifying hazards, assessing risks, and implementing appropriate control measures. We aim for continuous improvement in our health and safety performance through regular monitoring and review.
Management Responsibilities
The management of Man with Van Kingsbury accepts overall responsibility for ensuring that suitable arrangements, resources, and systems are in place to manage health and safety. This includes providing appropriate vehicles, handling equipment, and personal protective equipment, and ensuring that all staff receive relevant information, instruction, training, and supervision.
Management will ensure that health and safety considerations are integrated into planning and decision-making for all removal and transport activities, including route planning, loading and unloading, customer access, and work at collection and delivery sites.
Employee Responsibilities
All employees and contractors working on behalf of Man with Van Kingsbury have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. They must follow all safe systems of work, use equipment correctly, wear any required protective equipment, and report hazards, incidents, and near misses without delay.
No employee is expected to undertake any task for which they have not received adequate training or that they believe cannot be carried out safely. Concerns about safety must be raised with management so that appropriate action can be taken.
Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices
We conduct risk assessments for our core removal and man and van activities, including manual handling, loading and unloading vehicles, securing loads, driving, and working at customer premises. These assessments identify significant hazards and set out control measures designed to reduce risks to an acceptable level.
Safe working practices for our teams include planning lifting operations, using team lifting techniques, utilising appropriate trolleys or equipment, and ensuring that heavy or bulky items are handled in a controlled and coordinated manner. Walkways and access routes are kept as clear as reasonably practicable to minimise slips, trips, and falls.
Manual Handling and Use of Equipment
Manual handling is a key element of our removal and transport work. All staff involved in lifting and moving furniture, boxes, and equipment are provided with guidance and training in correct lifting techniques and safe body posture. Loads are assessed before lifting to ensure they are within the capability of the individuals involved and are stable and secure.
Where possible, handling aids such as sack trucks, dollies, straps, and ramps are used to reduce the physical effort required and the risk of injury. All equipment is maintained in a safe condition and removed from service if damaged or defective.
Vehicle Safety and Load Security
Our vehicles are selected and maintained to be suitable for the nature of our man and van and removal services. Routine checks are carried out on tyres, lights, brakes, and other safety-critical components in line with legal and manufacturer requirements.
Loads are secured within vehicles using straps, blankets, and other protective materials to prevent movement and damage during transit. Drivers are responsible for checking that loads are distributed evenly, safely positioned, and adequately restrained before the vehicle moves off.
Customer Premises and Public Safety
When working at customer homes, offices, or other locations, our teams take care to protect the premises and ensure the safety of occupants and visitors. This includes careful positioning of ramps and equipment, clear communication with customers, and the use of warning where necessary when moving large or heavy items.
We take reasonable steps to minimise disruption and risk to members of the public in areas where we operate, including careful parking of vehicles, safe opening of doors and tailgates, and maintaining clear sight lines when manoeuvring.
Training, Information, and Supervision
Man with Van Kingsbury provides staff with training relevant to their roles, which may include manual handling techniques, safe use of equipment, vehicle checks, and incident reporting procedures. New starters receive an introduction to our health and safety standards and working methods before undertaking unsupervised work.
Instructions and updates are provided to staff when new equipment, processes, or risks are identified, and supervision is maintained to ensure that safe systems of work are followed in practice.
Incident Reporting and Emergency Procedures
All accidents, near misses, and dangerous occurrences must be reported to management as soon as reasonably possible. Incidents are investigated to identify root causes and to determine any improvements required to prevent recurrence.
Our teams are briefed on emergency procedures including basic actions in the event of road traffic accidents, injuries during lifting, fires at customer premises, or sudden health issues affecting staff or customers. Drivers are expected to follow road safety guidance and cooperate fully with any emergency services if required.
Health, Wellbeing, and Fitness for Work
We recognise that removal and man and van work can be physically demanding. Staff are encouraged to maintain good physical health, to take rest breaks as appropriate, and to inform management of any health conditions that may affect their ability to work safely.
Employees must not work under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any substance that impairs their judgement or ability to perform tasks safely. Any concerns regarding fitness for work are addressed promptly and sensitively.
Policy Review and Continuous Improvement
This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains relevant to the nature and scale of our operations and compliant with applicable legal requirements. Reviews take into account changes in our services, feedback from staff and customers, and any incidents or near misses that occur.
Man with Van Kingsbury is committed to continually improving its health and safety performance and fostering a culture in which safety is a shared responsibility and a core value of our removal and transport services.
