Health and Safety Policy for Man With a Van Friern Barnet

Man With a Van Friern Barnet is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for our customers, employees, contractors, and members of the public who may be affected by our removals and transport activities. We recognise that high standards of health and safety are essential to delivering reliable and professional removal services.

Our Health and Safety Objectives

Our main objectives are to prevent injury, protect health, and minimise risks associated with moving, loading, transporting, and unloading goods. We aim to continually improve our safety performance and to integrate health and safety considerations into all aspects of our planning and day to day operations.

We will:

Identify and assess hazards linked to removals, lifting, carrying, and driving activities. Implement effective control measures to reduce risks to an acceptable level. Provide information, instruction, and training to staff so they can work safely and competently. Maintain vehicles, equipment, and tools in a safe condition. Monitor and review our procedures regularly and adjust them where needed.

Responsibilities and Management Commitment

The overall responsibility for health and safety within Man With a Van Friern Barnet rests with the company management. Management will provide the resources and support necessary to implement this policy and will lead by example in promoting a positive safety culture.

Each employee and contractor also 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 are expected to follow safe working practices, use equipment correctly, and report any concerns, incidents, or near misses immediately.

Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Before each removal job, we assess the specific risks associated with the property, access routes, parking arrangements, and items to be moved. This includes consideration of manual handling requirements, staircases, narrow corridors, heavy or awkward loads, and the presence of vulnerable people such as children or elderly clients.

Where necessary, we will adjust our methods of work, allocate additional staff, or use specialist equipment to ensure tasks can be completed safely. We do not carry out work that we consider unreasonably hazardous or beyond our safe working capabilities.

Manual Handling and Lifting

Manual handling is a key element of our removal services and presents one of the greatest risks of injury. To manage this, we:

Train staff in correct lifting and carrying techniques. Encourage team lifting for heavy or bulky items. Use handling aids such as trolleys, dollies, straps, and blankets wherever practical. Plan the route for large items in advance to minimise twisting, overreaching, and carrying distances. Encourage staff to speak up if an item is too heavy or awkward to move safely.

Staff are instructed never to attempt to lift or move items beyond their physical capability and to prioritise their own safety at all times.

Use of Vehicles and Driving Safety

Our vehicles are central to the delivery of our services and must be operated safely and responsibly. We:

Ensure vehicles are regularly inspected and maintained in good working order. Check tyres, lights, brakes, and securing points as part of routine checks. Require drivers to hold the appropriate valid driving licence and be medically fit to drive. Expect all drivers to follow road traffic laws, speed limits, and parking regulations. Insist that loads are safely distributed and properly secured before any journey begins.

Drivers are instructed not to drive when tired, under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or when impaired by illness or medication.

Customer and Public Safety

We take care to protect customers and members of the public while we are working at a property or on the street. This includes:

Planning safe access routes through the property. Keeping doorways, hallways, and staircases as clear as reasonably possible. Using caution when moving large items through shared areas. Communicating with customers about any short term restrictions to access while we are handling heavy objects. Positioning the vehicle as safely as possible to minimise obstructions and trip hazards.

We ask customers, especially those with children or pets, to keep them away from active lifting and loading areas to reduce the risk of accidents.

Equipment, Tools, and Load Security

All equipment and tools used during removal work are chosen and used with safety in mind. We:

Inspect straps, trolleys, and other equipment for wear and damage and remove from service if defective. Use appropriate protection such as blankets and covers to reduce the risk of damage and injury from sharp edges. Secure loads inside vehicles using suitable restraining systems. Avoid stacking items in an unstable manner that could move during transit or unloading.

Training, Information, and Supervision

We provide induction and on the job training for all staff, including guidance on manual handling, use of equipment, safe driving behaviour, and site specific risks. Supervisors and experienced team members monitor compliance with safe working practices and provide additional instruction where needed.

Health and safety information is communicated clearly and in simple language so that all team members understand what is expected of them and how to carry out their tasks safely.

Incident Reporting and Continuous Improvement

All accidents, injuries, near misses, and dangerous occurrences must be reported to management as soon as possible. We investigate such events to identify root causes and take corrective action to prevent recurrence.

We regularly review our health and safety performance, taking into account feedback from staff and customers, changes in our services, and any relevant new guidance or good practice. Our policy and procedures may be updated to reflect these reviews.

Review of this Policy

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed periodically to ensure it remains suitable, effective, and aligned with the nature and scale of our removals and man and van operations. Updated versions are communicated to staff, and customers may request to view the current policy at any time.

By following this policy, Man With a Van Friern Barnet aims to deliver safe, reliable, and professional moving services while protecting everyone involved in or affected by our work.