Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van Spitalfield

Man with Van Spitalfield 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 transport activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks, preventing injury and ill health, and continually improving our performance in all locations where we operate.

Our Health and Safety Objectives

Our objectives are to prevent accidents and work-related ill health, to identify and manage risks associated with removal, lifting, loading, unloading and transportation, and to promote a culture where safety is the responsibility of everyone within the company. We will comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and recognised industry good practice relating to moving, handling and van operations.

Management Responsibilities

The management of Man with Van Spitalfield accepts overall responsibility for health and safety within the business. Management will provide appropriate resources, information, instruction and supervision to ensure that work is carried out safely and without unacceptable risk to health. Duties include:

Evaluating health and safety risks for all removal and delivery tasks and implementing measures to control those risks. Ensuring that vehicles, lifting equipment and tools are maintained in a safe condition. Providing training so that workers are competent to carry out manual handling, loading and unloading, driving and customer interaction safely. Monitoring incidents, near misses and feedback to improve procedures. Reviewing this policy regularly and updating it to reflect changes in legislation, equipment, and work practices.

Employee Responsibilities

Every team member, including drivers, porters and support staff, has a legal and moral duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Employees must follow all safety instructions, use equipment correctly, and cooperate with management in the implementation of this policy. They are required to report hazards, unsafe conditions, accidents, near misses, injuries or concerns at the earliest opportunity.

Employees must not operate vehicles, lifting aids or any other equipment unless they are trained and authorised to do so. They must ensure that they are fit for duty and not under the influence of alcohol, drugs or any substance that could impair their ability to work safely.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Before undertaking removal work, Man with Van Spitalfield will assess the risks associated with the task, the environment, the items to be moved and any special requirements at the property or premises. This includes considering access routes, stairs, tight spaces, heavy or fragile items, weather conditions and traffic risks.

From these assessments we establish safe systems of work, which may include using additional staff, equipment such as trolleys or straps, specific lifting techniques, or altered parking and loading arrangements. Where risks cannot be eliminated, they will be reduced to the lowest reasonably practicable level.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a key part of our removal services and is a significant source of risk. Our policy is to minimise manual lifting wherever possible through planning, use of appropriate equipment and team lifts.

All staff engaged in handling furniture, boxes, appliances and other items will receive training in safe lifting and carrying methods. This includes assessing the weight and shape of items, testing the load before lifting, keeping the load close to the body, avoiding twisting, and communicating clearly with colleagues during team lifts. Items that are too heavy, awkward or unsafe for manual handling will only be moved with suitable equipment or alternative arrangements.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

The safe operation of our vans is essential to protect staff, customers and other road users. Vehicles will be regularly inspected, serviced and maintained in accordance with manufacturer recommendations and legal requirements. Drivers are responsible for carrying out basic pre-use checks, such as tyres, lights and securing mechanisms, before starting a journey.

Loads must be evenly distributed and safely secured within the vehicle to prevent movement during transport. Doors, ramps and tailgates must be used correctly and kept clear of obstructions. Drivers must comply with all road traffic laws, drive defensively, adapt to weather and traffic conditions and avoid distractions while driving.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

We recognise our duty to protect customers, visitors, neighbours and members of the public during removal operations. Our teams will take reasonable steps to ensure that work areas are kept as safe as practicable. This may include planning clear routes, managing trip hazards from packaging materials and equipment, and ensuring that doors, pathways and staircases remain as clear as possible during the move.

Where necessary, staff will control access to work areas, use warning signs or cones, and coordinate with customers to limit the movement of people through hazardous zones while heavy lifting, loading or unloading is taking place.

Training, Information and Supervision

Man with Van Spitalfield will provide appropriate induction and ongoing training to all employees. Training topics include manual handling, use of handling equipment, loading and unloading procedures, safe driving practices, hazard awareness, incident reporting and the contents of this Health and Safety Policy.

Supervisors and experienced team members will monitor new or less experienced staff to ensure that safe procedures are followed in practice. Refresher training will be provided when necessary, particularly following changes in legislation, equipment or working methods.

Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, injuries, near misses and dangerous occurrences must be reported in accordance with our internal procedures. This enables us to investigate the causes, take corrective action and prevent recurrence. First aid arrangements are in place and staff will know how to obtain assistance quickly if someone is injured or becomes unwell during work.

In the event of an emergency, such as fire, structural damage, serious injury, road traffic collision or hazardous substance exposure, staff must prioritise personal safety and the safety of others, contact the emergency services when required, and follow any site-specific instructions. After the incident, a full review will be carried out and any necessary improvements to procedures will be implemented.

Consultation and Continuous Improvement

We encourage all members of staff to contribute ideas on how to improve health and safety. Concerns, suggestions and feedback from employees and customers will be considered as part of our regular reviews of working practices.

This Health and Safety Policy will be reviewed periodically and whenever there are significant changes in our operations, services, equipment or legal requirements. Man with Van Spitalfield is committed to continual improvement in its health and safety performance and to maintaining high standards in every removal and transport service we provide.