Man with Van Edgware Health and Safety Policy

Man with Van Edgware is committed to providing safe, reliable and professional removal and transport services. This Health and Safety Policy sets out how we protect our customers, staff, contractors, members of the public and property during all moving and delivery activities.

Our aim is to prevent injury, ill-health and damage by identifying and managing risks associated with lifting, loading, driving, access to premises and handling of customer belongings. Health and safety is an integral part of our day-to-day operation and decision making.

Policy Objectives

The key objectives of this Health and Safety Policy are to

Promote a safe working environment for our team during all man and van, household removal and small office move services.

Minimise risks to customers and the public when our vehicles and staff are operating on or near their premises.

Protect property from accidental damage through safe lifting, moving and securing of goods.

Comply with applicable health and safety legislation and recognised industry best practice within the removals and transport sector.

Encourage continuous improvement in our health and safety performance and culture.

Management Responsibilities

Management at Man with Van Edgware is responsible for implementing this policy and ensuring that appropriate resources are in place, including training, equipment, supervision and monitoring.

We will

Assess health and safety risks associated with removal and transport activities.

Develop safe systems of work, including lifting methods, loading procedures and route planning.

Maintain vehicles and equipment to a safe standard.

Provide training and information to staff and contractors so they understand their responsibilities.

Review and update this policy and associated procedures at regular intervals or when significant changes occur.

Employee Responsibilities

Every team member has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. All staff and contractors working for Man with Van Edgware are expected to

Follow all safety procedures, instructions and training provided.

Use equipment, tools and vehicles correctly and for their intended purpose.

Report hazards, near misses, incidents and unsafe conditions promptly.

Wear suitable clothing and footwear for manual handling and moving tasks.

Cooperate with management in implementing health and safety measures and improvements.

Risk Assessment and Planning

Before carrying out moves and transport work, we plan and assess the associated risks. This includes

Assessing access to properties, including narrow hallways, stairs, lifts and loading areas.

Identifying potential hazards such as uneven surfaces, low ceilings, poor lighting or restricted parking.

Planning safe lifting techniques and determining if additional manpower or equipment is required.

Considering weather conditions and traffic when arranging routes and timing.

Taking account of any special customer requirements, such as fragile, heavy or high-value items.

Where necessary, we will adjust plans to avoid or reduce identified risks before starting work.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling and lifting are central to removal services and can present significant risk if not carried out safely. To reduce this risk, Man with Van Edgware

Trains staff in safe lifting techniques, including team lifts where appropriate.

Encourages staff to assess the weight and shape of items before moving them.

Uses lifting aids where reasonably practicable, such as trolleys or skates, to minimise physical strain.

Requires staff to avoid overreaching, twisting while carrying loads or attempting to move objects beyond their capability.

Promotes regular breaks where work is physically demanding to prevent fatigue-related injuries.

Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards

Our vehicles are essential to delivering removal and transport services safely and efficiently. We are committed to maintaining high standards of vehicle safety and driver conduct by

Carrying out routine vehicle checks, including tyres, brakes, lights and securing points.

Ensuring drivers hold appropriate licences and are competent to operate the vehicles they use.

Loading vehicles carefully so that goods are stable and secured, avoiding overloading or unbalanced loads.

Following safe driving practices, speed limits and road regulations at all times.

Planning routes in advance to avoid unnecessary risks, congestion and unsafe stopping points.

Customer and Public Safety

We recognise our responsibility to safeguard customers, neighbours and the general public when working in homes, business premises and on public roads. To support this, we

Keep access routes and doorways as clear as possible during loading and unloading.

Use safe lifting paths that reduce the chance of collision with people, furniture or fixtures.

Advise customers to keep children and pets away from loading areas and moving vehicles.

Position vehicles responsibly, avoiding blocking emergency exits or creating traffic hazards so far as reasonably practicable.

Respect property boundaries and take care to prevent damage to walls, floors, doors and communal areas.

Equipment, Tools and Protective Measures

Where appropriate to the task, we provide equipment and protective measures to support safe working, which may include

Removal blankets, straps and padding to protect both items and premises.

Trolleys, dollies and similar aids to reduce the need for heavy manual lifting.

Gloves and suitable footwear to assist with grip and stability.

Inspection and maintenance of equipment to ensure it remains in safe working condition.

Any defective equipment is removed from use immediately and only returned once repaired or replaced.

Incident Reporting and Investigation

All accidents, injuries, near misses or property damage occurring during our work must be reported to management as soon as reasonably practicable. Man with Van Edgware will

Record details of incidents to understand what happened.

Investigate causes objectively to identify any underlying factors.

Take corrective or preventive actions to reduce the chance of recurrence.

Share relevant findings with staff so lessons are learned across the business.

Training, Supervision and Communication

We provide appropriate health and safety training to all staff, proportionate to their role and responsibilities. This can include induction training, refresher sessions and task-specific guidance. Supervisors are responsible for monitoring working practices and intervening if unsafe behaviour or conditions are observed.

Health and safety expectations are communicated clearly to staff and, where relevant, explained to customers so that they understand how to support a safe working environment on the day of the move.

Policy Review and Commitment

This Health and Safety Policy reflects the current operations of Man with Van Edgware and the types of removal and transport services we provide. It will be reviewed regularly and updated as needed to reflect changes in legislation, industry standards or the nature of our services.

All managers, employees and contractors are required to comply with this policy. By working together and taking health and safety seriously, we aim to deliver every move efficiently, securely and with minimal risk to people, property and the environment.