Man With a Van Redbridge Health and Safety Policy

Man With a Van Redbridge is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our team members, customers, contractors and members of the public who may be affected by our removal and transport activities. This policy sets out our approach to managing health and safety risks across all services, including domestic moves, office removals, collections and deliveries.

We aim to prevent injury, ill health and damage to property by planning work carefully, training our people, using suitable equipment and continually improving our working practices.

Our Health and Safety Objectives

Our main health and safety objectives are to:

Identify, assess and control risks associated with lifting, carrying, loading, unloading and transporting goods.

Ensure that all work is carried out in accordance with relevant health and safety legislation and recognised industry standards.

Provide appropriate information, instruction, training and supervision so that our team can work safely and competently.

Promote a positive health and safety culture where everyone takes responsibility for their own safety and the safety of others.

Review and improve our health and safety performance regularly.

Management Responsibilities

The management of Man With a Van Redbridge has overall responsibility for ensuring that this health and safety policy is implemented and maintained. Management will:

Lead by example and demonstrate visible commitment to safe working.

Ensure that risk assessments are carried out for all relevant activities, including manual handling, vehicle use, working at height and work on customer premises.

Provide suitable vehicles, equipment and tools that are properly maintained, inspected and used in accordance with manufacturer guidance.

Ensure that staff receive appropriate induction training and refresher training on safe lifting, use of moving equipment, securing loads and emergency procedures.

Investigate accidents, incidents and near misses, and take corrective action to reduce the likelihood of recurrence.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees and regular contractors of Man With a Van Redbridge share a duty to safeguard their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Everyone is expected to:

Work safely at all times and follow the instructions, training and procedures provided.

Use the equipment, protective clothing and tools supplied, and report any loss, defect or damage immediately.

Cooperate with management in implementing this policy and any associated safe systems of work.

Report accidents, incidents, unsafe conditions or hazards without delay so that they can be addressed.

Refrain from working while under the influence of alcohol, drugs or any substance that may impair judgment or performance.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

We carry out risk assessments for our key activities and develop safe working methods for our team to follow. In the removals and transport environment, particular attention is given to:

Manual handling of furniture, appliances, boxes and other items, using correct lifting techniques and team lifting where required.

Use of trolleys, dollies, straps, blankets and other moving aids to reduce strain and protect property.

Safe loading and unloading of vehicles to prevent falls, crush injuries and load shifts during transit.

Securing loads properly within vehicles to avoid movement that could endanger road users, staff or customers.

Working safely in and around customer properties, including stairways, narrow corridors, shared entrances and external access routes.

Assessing weather conditions and site-specific hazards, such as slippery surfaces or poor lighting, and adapting working methods where necessary.

Vehicles and Driving Safety

Our removal vehicles are essential to our service, and we manage them with safety as a priority. We will:

Ensure that vehicles are regularly inspected, serviced and maintained in a roadworthy condition.

Check that drivers hold the appropriate licence for the vehicle they are operating and are medically fit to drive.

Require drivers to observe all road traffic laws, including speed limits, parking rules and restrictions around loading and unloading.

Manage driving hours and workloads to reduce risks associated with fatigue.

Ensure that vehicles are loaded within safe weight limits and that visibility is not compromised by the loading arrangement.

Working in Customer Premises

When working in homes, offices or other premises, we recognise our responsibility to protect both people and property. Our teams will:

Introduce themselves to the customer on arrival and agree access routes, parking areas and any specific safety considerations for the site.

Take care to avoid damage to doors, floors, walls and fixtures, using protective coverings where appropriate.

Keep walkways and stairways as clear as reasonably practicable, minimising trip hazards from tools, boxes and packing materials.

Observe any site-specific safety rules provided by building managers or occupiers.

Work in a respectful and considerate manner, particularly in shared buildings and residential areas where noise and obstruction must be kept to a minimum.

Personal Protective Equipment and Work Equipment

Where risk assessments identify a need for personal protective equipment, such as gloves, safety footwear or high visibility garments, this will be provided and must be worn as instructed. All lifting and moving equipment will be used in accordance with training and manufacturer guidance.

Only authorised and competent personnel may use specialised equipment. Any defective item must be taken out of service and reported immediately.

Health, Welfare and Emergency Preparedness

We are committed to protecting the health and welfare of our workers and customers. To support this, we will:

Encourage regular breaks and safe working practices that reduce fatigue and physical strain.

Provide access to basic first aid equipment within vehicles or at the base of operations.

Ensure staff know how to respond in an emergency, including road traffic incidents, injuries during loading or unloading, fire, or sudden illness.

Cooperate with emergency services and follow their instructions if they are called to an incident involving our activities.

Consultation, Communication and Training

We believe health and safety works best when everyone is involved. Man With a Van Redbridge will:

Consult with staff on health and safety matters that affect their work.

Encourage team members to suggest improvements to working practices and equipment.

Provide clear communication on procedures, updates to risk controls and lessons learned from incidents.

Deliver appropriate training and refreshers to ensure that knowledge and skills remain current.

Monitoring, Review and Policy Updates

This health and safety policy will be monitored on an ongoing basis and reviewed periodically to ensure it remains suitable, effective and aligned with current legal requirements and best practice in the removals and transport sector.

Where changes to our operations, equipment, locations or relevant legislation occur, we will update this policy and communicate any significant changes to our team and, where appropriate, to our customers.

By instructing Man With a Van Redbridge, customers can be confident that we are committed to carrying out removal and delivery services in a safe, responsible and professional manner at all times.