Health and Safety policy

Man With a Van Brixton Health and Safety Policy

Man With a Van Brixton is committed to providing a professional and safe removal service for our customers, our team members and the wider public. This Health and Safety Policy sets out the principles and procedures we follow to manage risks associated with moving, lifting, loading, driving and working in a variety of residential and commercial environments.

Our Commitment to Health and Safety

We recognise our duty of care to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that our work is carried out without risk to health and safety. This applies to our employees, contractors, customers and any other person who may be affected by our activities. We aim to continually improve our health and safety performance through training, supervision, risk assessment and clear communication.

Health and safety is a core part of how we deliver our man and van and removal services. All team members are expected to co operate with this policy and to take reasonable care for their own safety and that of others.

Roles and Responsibilities

The management of Man With a Van Brixton is responsible for implementing this policy, providing appropriate resources and monitoring health and safety performance. Management will ensure that:

Suitable and sufficient risk assessments are undertaken for our removal and delivery activities. Safe systems of work are developed, documented where required and communicated to staff. Equipment and vehicles are maintained in a safe condition. Staff receive appropriate information, instruction, training and supervision to work safely.

All staff members, including drivers and porters, have a responsibility to:

Follow all safe working procedures and instructions. Use equipment correctly and report any defects immediately. Inform management of any incident, near miss or hazard they become aware of. Co operate in any investigation and training related to health and safety.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Before each job, we assess the key risks associated with the property, access routes, items to be moved, parking and any special requirements. Where necessary, we adjust the team size, equipment used and the method of work to reduce risks.

Safe working practices include:

Planning the route for moving items between the property and the vehicle. Checking flooring, stairs and access areas for slip, trip or fall hazards. Using appropriate lifting techniques or additional staff for heavy or awkward items. Ensuring that items are stacked and secured safely in the vehicle. Avoiding unsafe shortcuts or working methods, even when under time pressure.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a major part of removal work and a key focus of our safety procedures. Our staff are trained to:

Assess the weight, shape and stability of an item before attempting to lift. Use team lifting or suitable handling aids for heavy, large or fragile objects. Keep loads close to the body and avoid twisting while lifting or carrying. Take regular short breaks when working on physically demanding tasks. Refuse to move any item that presents an unacceptable risk without further controls.

We promote a culture where staff are encouraged to ask for help and to report any concerns about manual handling tasks.

Use of Equipment and Vehicles

Our vehicles and handling equipment are essential to the safe delivery of our removal services. We ensure that:

Vehicles are regularly inspected, serviced and kept in a roadworthy condition. Tail lifts, trolleys and other mechanical aids are maintained and used correctly. Loads are distributed and secured to prevent movement during transit. Drivers carry out basic pre use checks and report any issues promptly.

Only authorised and competent drivers are permitted to operate company vehicles. All driving work is planned to minimise risk, taking into account traffic, weather and time pressures.

Safe Driving and Road Safety

Driving is a significant part of our operation and we are committed to safe and responsible road use. Our approach includes:

Observing all speed limits and traffic regulations. Avoiding mobile phone use while driving, except via approved hands free systems where legally permitted. Allowing adequate time for journeys to reduce the temptation to rush. Adjusting driving style to suit weather, traffic and road conditions. Ensuring drivers are fit to drive and not under the influence of alcohol, drugs or any medication that impairs performance.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

When working at customer homes, offices or other premises, we recognise our responsibility to safeguard both the occupants and the public. We will:

Maintain clear access routes and avoid blocking fire exits. Use warning where there are trailing leads, open doors, or other temporary hazards. Keep tools and equipment safely stored when not in use. Take care to protect children, pets and vulnerable persons from potential harm during the move.

Customers are asked to keep walkways free of clutter as far as possible and to follow any reasonable safety requests made by our team.

Personal Protective Equipment and Clothing

Where necessary, our staff use appropriate personal protective equipment such as safety footwear and gloves. Clothing is selected to allow free movement while reducing the risk of trips, entanglement or other hazards. PPE is provided, maintained and replaced as needed and must be used according to training and instructions.

Training, Information and Supervision

All team members receive induction training on our health and safety procedures, followed by task specific instruction for removal work. Topics include manual handling, load securing, vehicle safety, working at customer premises and emergency procedures.

Ongoing training and refresher sessions are provided when required, and new staff are supervised until they can demonstrate safe working practices consistently.

Incident Reporting and Investigation

All accidents, injuries, property damage and near misses must be reported to management as soon as possible. We record and investigate each incident to identify root causes and take corrective actions. Lessons learned are communicated to staff to help prevent recurrence.

Health, Welfare and Fitness for Work

We recognise that removal work can be physically demanding. Staff are encouraged to maintain good general health and fitness and to inform management of any medical condition that may affect their ability to work safely.

We do not tolerate working under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs. Prescription or over the counter medicines that may cause drowsiness or impair judgement must be discussed with management before undertaking driving or manual handling tasks.

Review and Continuous Improvement

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and updated when there are significant changes in our operations, legislation or best practice. We welcome feedback from staff and customers on any aspect of safety, and we use this input to improve how we plan and carry out our man and van and removal services.

By working together, following agreed procedures and staying alert to potential hazards, Man With a Van Brixton aims to provide a reliable, efficient and safe service for every move.