Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van Little Ilford
Man with Van Little Ilford is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, contractors, customers and members of the public. As a professional removal company, we recognise that our activities, including lifting, carrying, loading, driving and working in varied locations, present specific health and safety risks that must be managed responsibly.
This Health and Safety policy sets out our approach to managing those risks and maintaining high standards of safety across all removal and delivery services we undertake.
Policy Statement and Objectives
Our objective is to prevent injury, ill health, property damage and unsafe practices associated with our removal and transport operations. We will do this by identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing proportionate control measures across all areas of our work.
We aim to continuously improve our health and safety performance by reviewing this policy, learning from experience and staying informed about best practice in the removals and transport sector.
Management Responsibilities
Management of Man with Van Little Ilford is responsible for ensuring that health and safety considerations are integrated into all aspects of our planning and daily operations. This includes:
Providing and maintaining vehicles, equipment and tools in a safe and serviceable condition. Allocating adequate resources for health and safety measures, including maintenance, training and protective equipment. Establishing safe systems of work for moving, loading and transporting items, particularly heavy or awkward loads. Communicating this policy and ensuring that employees understand their responsibilities. Monitoring compliance with health and safety procedures and addressing any shortcomings promptly.
Employee Responsibilities
Every employee and contractor working on behalf of Man with Van Little Ilford 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.
All team members are expected to:
Follow the companys health and safety procedures and instructions at all times. Use vehicles, lifting equipment, tools and protective gear correctly and only for their intended purpose. Report hazards, defects, near misses and incidents to management without delay. Refrain from any behaviour that could put themselves, colleagues, customers or the public at risk. Cooperate fully with any health and safety training, supervision and monitoring.
Risk Assessment and Safe Work Practices
Man with Van Little Ilford will carry out suitable and proportionate risk assessments for its activities. These assessments will consider manual handling, access to properties, vehicle loading, road safety and any site-specific hazards at customer locations.
From these assessments, we will develop and implement safe working methods, which may include:
Using proper lifting and carrying techniques and working in teams for heavy items. Planning access routes and identifying obstacles such as stairs, narrow doorways or uneven surfaces. Ensuring loads are securely packed, balanced and restrained within vehicles. Limiting the weight and size of items that can be safely handled without mechanical aids. Scheduling work to allow adequate time for safe loading, unloading and driving.
Manual Handling and Use of Equipment
Manual handling is a core part of our removal service and is a recognised source of potential injury. We will minimise risks from manual handling by:
Providing guidance on safe lifting techniques, posture and use of team lifting. Making use of trolleys, dollies, straps and other handling aids where appropriate. Avoiding unnecessary lifting by planning the job layout in advance. Refusing to move items that exceed safe handling limits or cannot be moved safely with the equipment available.
All handling equipment will be inspected regularly and maintained so that it remains safe to use. Any defective equipment will be taken out of service immediately.
Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards
Our vehicles are fundamental to the work of Man with Van Little Ilford and must be operated safely at all times. We will:
Ensure vehicles are regularly serviced and checked for roadworthiness, including tyres, brakes, lights and load securing points. Require drivers to hold the appropriate licences and to follow road traffic laws and company driving standards. Prohibit driving while under the influence of alcohol, drugs or any substance that may impair performance. Encourage safe driving behaviours, including appropriate speed, consideration for other road users and avoidance of distractions.
Loads must always be distributed evenly and secured to prevent movement during transit, protecting both road safety and the integrity of customers belongings.
Customer Premises and Public Safety
Our teams work in customers homes, offices and shared spaces. We will conduct ourselves in a way that minimises risks to customers, visitors and the public by:
Keeping access routes as clear as reasonably practicable during loading and unloading. Using warning where necessary when moving bulky items through communal or busy areas. Taking care to avoid damage to property, fixtures and fittings that could create hazards. Being alert to vulnerable persons, such as children, elderly individuals or pets in the vicinity, and adapting our working methods accordingly.
Training, Information and Supervision
Man with Van Little Ilford will provide employees with information and instruction relevant to their roles, including induction on company health and safety rules, safe lifting, load securing and the correct use of equipment.
Where required, additional training will be provided to ensure that staff are competent to carry out specialist tasks. Supervisors or experienced team members will oversee new or less experienced staff to ensure procedures are followed correctly and safely.
Incident Reporting and Policy Review
All accidents, injuries, near misses and dangerous situations that occur during our operations must be reported to management as soon as possible. We will investigate incidents to identify root causes and implement corrective measures to prevent recurrence.
This Health and Safety policy will be reviewed regularly and updated when necessary, such as when there are changes to legislation, our services or the nature of the work we carry out. The revised policy will be communicated to all staff and will be made available to customers who request information about our health and safety arrangements.
By following this policy, Man with Van Little Ilford aims to deliver reliable removal services while safeguarding the wellbeing of our team, our customers and the wider community.
