Man with Van Biggin Hill Health and Safety Policy

This Health and Safety Policy sets out the principles and procedures that guide Man with Van Biggin Hill in providing safe, reliable and responsible removal services. Our aim is to protect the health, safety and welfare of our workers, customers, the public and any other parties affected by our activities during home, office and specialist removals.

Health and Safety Commitment

Man with Van Biggin Hill is committed to maintaining high health and safety standards in every aspect of our removal operations. We will take all reasonably practicable measures to prevent injury, ill health, damage to property and harm to the environment. We recognise that good safety practice is essential to delivering a professional moving service in our local area and beyond.

Health and safety is a core management responsibility and also a shared duty for all workers engaged in our moving and transport services. Everyone is expected to co operate fully with this policy and any associated procedures, instructions or risk assessments.

Management Responsibilities

The management of Man with Van Biggin Hill will:

Identify, assess and manage risks associated with moving, loading, unloading and transporting goods. Provide safe and well maintained vehicles, equipment and handling aids suitable for the work carried out. Ensure workers receive appropriate information, instruction, training and supervision so tasks are completed safely and competently. Review working practices regularly to reflect changes in legislation, industry guidance and the nature of our moving services. Investigate accidents, incidents and near misses and take corrective action to reduce the likelihood of recurrence. Consult with staff on health and safety matters and encourage feedback to improve performance.

Employee and Worker Responsibilities

All workers engaged by Man with Van Biggin Hill, whether permanent, temporary or subcontracted, must:

Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. Follow all safety instructions, training and safe systems of work provided. Use vehicles, moving equipment and personal protective equipment correctly and report any defects immediately. Refrain from horseplay, unsafe behaviour or the misuse of equipment. Report hazards, near misses, accidents or health concerns to management as soon as possible. Co operate with any accident investigations, safety reviews or medical assessments where required.

Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

Man with Van Biggin Hill carries out risk assessments for typical and specialist removal tasks in domestic and commercial settings. These assessments consider hazards such as manual handling, working in confined or cluttered spaces, staircases, vehicle movements, loading and unloading, weather conditions and the handling of fragile or high value items.

Based on these assessments, we implement safe systems of work that may include pre move surveys, planning of access routes, allocation of appropriate staffing levels, use of handling aids, securing of loads and safe parking arrangements. Where necessary, site specific assessments are conducted to address any unusual risks at the collection or delivery address.

Manual Handling and Use of Equipment

Manual handling is a significant aspect of our removal service. To minimise the risk of injury, Man with Van Biggin Hill:

Provides training on correct lifting techniques, team lifts and the use of handling aids. Encourages assessment of each load before moving, considering weight, shape, stability and route. Uses trolleys, dollies, straps, blankets and other suitable equipment where reasonably practicable. Avoids lone handling of heavy or awkward items wherever possible. Plans lifts involving stairs, tight corners or long carrying distances in advance.

All equipment used in the course of removal operations is inspected regularly and taken out of service if found to be defective or unsafe.

Vehicle Safety and Load Security

Our vehicles are maintained in a roadworthy condition and used in accordance with legal requirements and manufacturer instructions. Drivers are responsible for daily visual checks and reporting any defects.

Load security is essential to protect both people and property. Man with Van Biggin Hill uses appropriate load securing methods to prevent movement, crushing or damage during transit. Heavy items are placed low and evenly distributed, and fragile items are protected and positioned to avoid impact or pressure from other goods.

Customer Premises and Public Safety

When working at customer premises or in public areas, we take steps to minimise risk to customers, visitors and passers by. This includes careful positioning of vehicles, maintaining clear walkways, mindful handling of items near doors, windows and fixtures, and prompt clean up of any packaging or debris that could cause slips, trips or falls.

We request that customers keep children, pets and unnecessary visitors clear of active working areas during loading and unloading operations.

Personal Protective Equipment and Welfare

Where risk assessments identify the need, suitable personal protective equipment such as gloves, footwear with appropriate grip, and high visibility clothing will be provided and used. Workers must wear the equipment as instructed and report any damage or loss immediately.

Man with Van Biggin Hill recognises the importance of welfare arrangements for staff, including adequate breaks, access to drinking water and consideration of weather conditions when planning work schedules.

Training, Communication and Monitoring

We provide ongoing training relevant to the roles undertaken, which may include manual handling, safe driving, load security, use of equipment and emergency procedures. New workers are given an induction that covers key health and safety expectations and company procedures.

Health and safety performance is monitored through periodic reviews, inspections and by analysing any reported incidents. Findings are used to improve our systems and to update this policy where appropriate.

Accident Reporting and Emergency Procedures

All accidents, injuries, near misses or dangerous occurrences must be reported to management as soon as reasonably practicable. Records are kept and reviewed to identify trends and inform preventative measures.

In the event of an emergency, such as fire, serious injury, traffic incident or structural damage at a property, workers are required to prioritise the safety of people, contact the appropriate emergency services and follow any site specific instructions or legal requirements.

Policy Review

This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and updated as necessary to reflect changes in legislation, our operating practices and the nature of the removal services we provide in the local area and further afield. All workers are informed of any significant changes and are expected to familiarise themselves with the current version of the policy.

By implementing and maintaining this policy, Man with Van Biggin Hill aims to provide a safe, responsible and trustworthy removal service for all customers.