Man with Van Wanstead Health and Safety Policy
Man with Van Wanstead 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 activities. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to identifying, managing and minimising risks associated with domestic and commercial removals, including loading, transport and unloading of goods.
Our Health and Safety Objectives
We aim to prevent injuries, ill health and property damage by planning our work carefully and maintaining clear safety standards. Our objectives are to:
Assess risks associated with moving, lifting and transporting items and take reasonable steps to control them. Provide information, instruction, training and supervision to ensure employees can carry out their work safely. Maintain vehicles, moving equipment and protective equipment in a safe and serviceable condition. Encourage a positive safety culture where all individuals share responsibility for maintaining safe working practices.
Legal Responsibilities
Man with Van Wanstead recognises its responsibilities under relevant health and safety legislation and associated codes of practice. We will take all reasonably practicable measures to ensure the health, safety and welfare of our employees and others affected by our work. Employees are required to cooperate with the company in meeting these responsibilities and to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others.
Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices
Before each removal or transport job, the work is assessed to identify potential hazards such as restricted access, stairs, heavy or awkward items, poor lighting, uneven surfaces, adverse weather and proximity to traffic. Where necessary, adjustments are made to the method of work to reduce risk to an acceptable level.
Safe systems of work may include allocating additional staff for heavy or complex moves, using appropriate moving equipment, planning vehicle positioning to minimise manual handling distances and setting clear communication between team members on site.
Manual Handling and Use of Equipment
Manual handling is a core part of removal work and is managed carefully. Staff are trained in safe lifting techniques and reminded to:
Assess the load before lifting, including its weight, size and stability. Request assistance or use equipment for heavy or bulky items. Keep loads close to the body and avoid twisting while lifting or carrying. Take regular short breaks where continuous lifting is required.
Where appropriate, we use trolleys, dollies, straps, blankets and other handling aids. All equipment is inspected regularly and any damaged or defective items are removed from service until repaired or replaced.
Vehicle and Driving Safety
Our vehicles are maintained in a roadworthy condition and are subject to routine inspections. Drivers must be suitably licensed, competent and familiar with safe loading and unloading procedures. Loads are secured to prevent movement during transit and weight limits are always respected.
Drivers are required to follow road safety laws, adhere to speed limits and drive in a manner that protects passengers, other road users and the public. Fatigue, alcohol, drugs or any substances that impair driving are not tolerated.
Protection of Customers, Premises and Public Areas
During collection and delivery, our teams take reasonable steps to protect customer property, shared areas and public spaces. This may include careful route planning through buildings, protecting floors and walls where necessary and controlling access to areas where lifting or loading is taking place.
Where work takes place in communal or public areas, staff are instructed to maintain clear walkways, avoid blocking exits and remain aware of pedestrians and other occupants.
Training, Information and Supervision
All staff receive induction training that covers the health and safety requirements relevant to removal work. Ongoing training is provided to reinforce safe manual handling, correct use of equipment, vehicle safety, incident reporting and customer care.
Supervisors are responsible for monitoring adherence to safety procedures and for providing guidance on site where needed. Any unsafe behaviour or conditions are addressed promptly.
Personal Protective Equipment
Where risk assessments indicate, appropriate personal protective equipment may be provided, such as protective gloves, safety footwear or high visibility clothing. Staff are required to use this equipment correctly and to report any damage or loss so that replacements can be arranged.
Accident, Incident and Near Miss Reporting
All accidents, incidents and near misses involving employees, customers or members of the public must be reported to management as soon as possible. We investigate these events to determine root causes and implement measures to prevent recurrence. Records are kept in line with legal and internal requirements.
Health, Welfare and Fitness for Work
We recognise the physical nature of removal work and encourage staff to look after their health and fitness. Employees are expected to report any medical issues or injuries that may affect their ability to work safely. We will consider reasonable adjustments where appropriate.
Alcohol and drug misuse are strictly prohibited during working hours and may lead to immediate removal from duty and further action.
Shared Responsibilities and Cooperation
Health and safety is a shared responsibility. Employees must follow training and instructions, use equipment correctly, report hazards, and avoid taking unnecessary risks. Customers are asked to cooperate by providing accurate information about access, parking, item sizes and any special risks so that we can plan work safely.
Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement
This Health and Safety Policy is monitored and reviewed regularly, and updated when necessary to reflect changes in legislation, best practice or our operations. Feedback from staff and customers is welcomed and used to improve our safety performance and service quality.
By choosing Man with Van Wanstead, customers can be confident that health and safety considerations are central to the planning and delivery of every removal we undertake.
